

■ 












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VICKSBURG 



A POEM. 




CV AT HO BBS, A. M., 

First Sergeant Company B, Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



CHICAGO! 

J. FAIRBANKS & CO 

1880. 



.H34-1/. 



9912 



COPYRIGHT ED. 
J . FAIRBANKS & CO, 

1SS0. 



STEAK PRESS OT 

CUSUING, THOMAS & CO., 

CHICAGO. 




FROM WHOM 

CAME EVER INSPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT, 

I AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBE 

MY ONLY POETICAL WORK. 

C. A. H. 



PREFACE. 



It is not without hesitation that the author gives this poem 
to the public. That it has fallen far below his own ideal, pre- 
pares him to admit, what doubtless all can see, imperfections in 
it neither small nor few. 

But he has sought to present a faithful picture of that cam- 
paign, greatest in our civil war ; and especially to make vivid 
the life of the soldiery during the siege of Vicksburg. 

He has sought accuracy in the historical account, and believes 
he has succeeded. To do this, however, he has occasionally in 
troduced facts, hitherto unpublished, and which in one case, at 
least, corrects a statement made by Badeau in his "Military Life 
of Gen. Grant." The large majority of incidents contained in 
the poem, are drawn from life ; and where otherwise, they 
are in entire harmony with the spirit of the great, sad scenes 
which pass here before the eye. 

And the author wishes to make a confidant of the reader, so 
far as to say, that the poem was most difficult to begin. There 
were so many good points of departure that he is not sure now 



he has selected the best. But, after consideration he chose the 
time when transports successfully ran the the blockade of Vicks- 
burg, because it was an enterprise wholly new in war, and was 
in reality the last beginning of the triumphant end. All 
previous campaigns against the city are briefly summed up in 
the opening pages, and the spirit of contemptuous ridicule visited 
upon Gen. Grant by the Confederate authorities, indicated. Ex- 
tended notes have not been possible, but a few w r ords of explana- 
tion will be found occasionally, and the author wishes to say in 
this connection, that the poem will be best understood by those 
most familiar with the details of the Vicksburg campaign. 

The music to the lullaby has been furnished by his old instruc- 
tor and present friend, O. L. Castle, LL.D., Professor of Belle 
Lettres and Latin, Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, 111., and 
whose kindly and valuable assistance in other directions he is 
here glad to acknowledge. 

And finally : It has been very far from the author's purpose 
that the interest of the poem should depend wholly upon the 
subject chosen. But whether he has succeeded in adding any- 
thing beyond this, he now submits to the public for decibion. 

Bat A via, III., June, 1SS0. C. A. H. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PART FIRST. 



Book i. — Introductory Lines.— A Night Scene — Pemlerton and Officers in 
Council — Grant's Plans Loudly Ridiculed — Heavy Cannonading- In- 
terrupts a Toast to his Defeat, and they go Forth to Witness the First 
Passage of Transports Befoie Their Batteries — Scene Described. 

Book 2. — Night of 22d of April, 1863. — Pemberton Still Perplexed at the 
Federal Movements. — Second Fleet of Transports — His Chagrin and 
Wrath. — Begins to Understand Grant's Purpose. 

Book 3. — New Carthage, La. — Scene in the Federal Camp. — Soldiers Con- 
versing. — Their Experience in the Swamps of Louisiana Narrated — 
Federal Description of " Running the Rebel Batteries. — Poem, " A Call 
for Volunteers." — Is War Ever Right?— Decision that the War for the 
Union is Wholly Just. 

Book 4. — Tribute to Vicksburg— Pemberton's Purpose to Reinf* res Bowen 
at Grand Gulf Changed by Sherman's Feint from the North — Dis- 
covers the Feint When Too Late— Is Startled by Tidings of a Battle 
Between the Federal Forces and the Grand Gulf Garrison, Near Port 
Gibson — Dispatches Johnston for Aid. 

Book 5.— The Federal Camp— Description of the March from Perkins' 
Plantation— The Bombardment of Grand Gulf; and the March Inland, 
after Landing at Bruinsburg, Miss.— Tncidents: A Soldier Drowned— 
A Poem, -Out of the Darkness, a Voice "—A Negro Patriarch's Bless- 
ing at Midnight. 



PART SECOND. 

Book i.— Review— Grant on the Gunboat at Grand Gulf— The Immortal 
Decision on which Hinged the Destiny of" the Nation — The Crisis Passed 
— Vicksburg Must Fall ! 

Book 2.— A Glance at Both Armies— Grant's Dispatches to Washington, 
D. C, That He Would Not Communicate with Grand Gulf for Many 
Days— Bears Date May 11, 1863, or the Same Date as that from Wash- 
ington, D. C, Received Long Afterward, Directing Him to Co-operate 
With Gen. Banks Against Port Hudson— Rebels' Mistaken Estimate of 
Grant's Design— Pemberton Marches Out of Yicksburg With Heavy 
Force, in a Vain Effort to Find Grant's Base— Is Imperatively Ordered 
to Join Johnston, and is Struck in the Movement by the Advance of 
the Federal Army, Returning from the Capture of Raymond and Jack- 
son. 

Book 3.— A Statement of Grant's Movements— The Armies Gather Cen- 
trally Toward Champion Hill— Battle of Champion Hill Described. 

Book 4. — The Pursuit of Pemberton's Beaten Army. 

Book 5.— The Sabbath Battle— Poem, "Sabbath Bells "—Grant Receives 
the Order from Washington Bearing Date May 11, Instructing Him 
to Unite His Forces With Those of Gen. Banks' Below Port Hudson- 
Orders Instead the Battle of Big Black River— The Charge— The Cap- 
ture—Destruction of the Bridge Over the River by the Enemy— Build- 
ing Bridges Aftei the Victory. 

Book 6.— Closing in on Vicksbuig— Confusion in the City— The Surviving 
Three Pieces of Artillery, Which Win in the Long Race, and Get 
Back to the Works— Pemberton's Successful Effort to Rally His Men- 
Federal Advance— Sherman at Haines' Bluff— His Emotion at Behold- 
ing the Scene of His Former Failure— His Tribute to Grant. 

PART THIRD. 
Book 1.— The Loyal River, and the Site of Vicksburg Described— The 



River's Soliloquy— Federal Advance Drives the Enemy into His Works 

Experience of a Certain Regiment — Bloody Scenes. 

Book 2.— Grant Determines to Assault the City All Along the Lines- 
Porter's Part in the Attack— The Charge of the 22d of May as Seen by 
Generals Grant, Sherman and McClernand— The Sad Repulse. 
Book 3.— The Federal Camp— Scenes in the Trenches Three Weeks after 
the Charge— Visit of Citizens to the Army, and Among These, Citizen 
Hearty, to See His Friend, Sergeant Mars— Desires to Learn the Life 
of a Soldier— Is Duly Initiated— Does n't Sleep Good on the Hard Bed 
—Is Told to Pocket' the "minie" that Visited His Couch -Discusses 
the Charge— Thinks He Could Have Managed it Better— Wants to 
Know Why it Failed. 
Book 4.— The Charge Described by the Sergeant— Its Fierce Character- 
Destruction of Life— Entangled in the Vines and Hindered by Abrupt 
and Precipitous Ravines— Rebels turn to fly— Rallied by their Officers, 
and Are Heavily Reinforced— All of the Sergeant's Regimental Field- 
Officers Wounded and Taken From the Fight— Command Given Which 
the Ground Made Impossible to Obey— Another Command Not Thor- 
oughly Understood— Scattered Troops— The Regiment in Advance 
of Most of the Brigade, and Far Ahead of the Remainder of the Divis- 
ion—Flag Captured— Seventy-five Men Answer to the Roll Call, on the 
Hillside, of the Two Hundred and Forty Who Went into the Fight- 
Counter Charge of the Enemy Repulsed by These, Led on by a Cap- 
tain Who Received the Command — The Sergeant Returns from a 
Place Under the Rebel Forts After Nightfall -Flag of Truce— The 
Startling Call to Dinner. 
Book 5.— The Education of Citizen Hearty Continues— Picket Before the 
Enemy— With the Reserve— Poem, « Picket in Arkansas "—Discussion 
as to the Influence of War Upon Character— Interruption : "A Shot at 
the Front"— A Picket Demoralized by a Shot on the "Crazy Bone"— 
Laughter-A Story by Jolly Man-Shells from Porter's Mortar Fleet 
Observed— Pickets Delighted— Scene Described. 



Book 6. — Cave Life in Vicksburg — War vs. The Home — A Mother and 
Two Children at the Entrance of a Cave — Wise Mabelleof Four Years 
is asking Her Mother Strange Questions — Their Conversation — Ma- 
belle's Discovery of " Falling Stars," or the Fuse-burning Shells of 
Porter — A Shell Falls Near By — Alarm of Mabelle — Babe Awake- and 
Cries — Mabelle's Farther Questions — Another Shell — Mabelle's Re- 
quest for a Lullaby — " By and By," or the Mother's Song to Her Chil- 
dren. 

Book 7. — Federal Camp — Life in the Trenches— Death of Two Soldiers — 
Sergeant Mars on " Fatigue ''-- Takes Citizen Hearty Along — The 
Couch on Grape Shot — Spades! — The Advance Rifle Pit — Swift Work- 
ers — Texas Rifle Balls — Trench Finished — Hearty's Resolve. 

Book S. — Hearty's Education Progressing — Walks to the Springs With 
Sergeant Mars — Card-playing! — The Spring! — Danger From Our Siege 
Pieces — Mine Before Logan to Be Sprung. 

Bojk 9. — IntheCity — Cave Life Again — Mabelle's Father Brought Back 
Slightly Wounded and Sick — Is Discouraged and Wants Pemberton to 
Surrender — A Tall, Angular Woman Calls Him a Coward — Bids Him 
Give His Gun to Women, Who Will Fight— He Offers To Do So— Wo- 
man Leaves in Disgust — The Terrible Explosion — Heavy Firing Along 
the Line — Woman Returns — Wants to be Protected — Soldier Seeks to 
Return to His Command — Faints on the Way — Learns of the Failure 
of Logan's Mine. 

Book 10. — Sergeant Mars and the Company to Which He Belongs Are 
"Supports" to the Men in the Rifle Pit — Citizen Hearty, Tired Out, 
Remains on the Hillside, Safe — A great Rain ! — Citizen Hearty Drowned 
Out — Climbs the Hill Where Sergeant Mars is Stationed — Is the Object 
of Jests — Is Offended, but Appeased by Appeal to the Harder Lot ot the 
Men in Logan's Front, in the Crater — Jolly Man Called For — Stores: 
"Milking in Missouri," " Missouri Bears," "Hit Him on the Wrong 
End"— Interrupted by Story of the Picket — Strange News — Hearty a 
Sharpshooter! — He Shoots a Horse! — Disastrous Result — W T ill Not 
Wade in the Mud of the Trench and Retires Disgusted — His Experi- 

7.0 



ence at the Wash Sheds — Hears of an Unwelcome Animal that Run» 
on Man's Flesh — Is Disgusted with War, Since it Cannot be Waged 
with Decency — Mars Points out a g — y — b — k On His Clothing — It is 
too much — Hearty Takes his Final Departure From Camp. 

Book ii. — Johnston's Camp — The Disheartening Tidings — Famine in 
Vicksburg— The Inflexible Grant Holds His Own— "The Few, Great, 
Weighty, Last Days of the Siege!" 

Book 12. — In the City — The Cave — Mabelle Goes, Unknown to Her Pa- 
rents, After a Drink of Cool Water for Her Papa — Is Fatally Wounded 
By a Piece of Shell From a Ten Pounder Carelessly Dropped by Con- 
federate Soldiers Under the Impression that it was a Fuse and Non- 
explosive — Death Scene — Brief Funeral Service by Aged Pastor — His 
Words Interrupted by a Soldier Passing by With the Cry : 

•' Pemberton's surrendered — the fighting's done! 
The white flag's out and Grant the day has won!" 

Sad Words of the Mother, While Are Heard Afar the Cheers of the 
Federals. 

Book 13. — A Triumphant Paean for the Double Victory East and West — 
The Fourth of July Consecrated Anew — Living and Dead — Aye, Even 
the Continentals, Who Unfurled Our Flag, Interested in the Grand 
Triumph— The Entry Into Vicksburg— Logan's Division Given the 
. Place of Honor and Proudly Leads the Way.— "Thus Ours Was the 
Gallant City!" 




VICKSBURG. 




OUR! great in deeds before unknown 
, to war, 

yircjfc Noontide of that dread strife that 
-% -^r brought near doom 

The latest born of nations, I would sins' 
First; where in equal rivalry great deeds 
Contend. 



l 3 



Lo! Vicksburg calm upon her hills, 
Unconquered waits, stern mistress of the wave, 
That inland sweeps its loyal current on, 
Chafing and vexed, to seek the unfettered sea. 

Hid now her trench-scarred sloping terraces 
In early gathering gloom, where low and black, 
Night sweeps her wing of reeking plume afar, 
Scattering a fine mist o'er the land. 

Secure 
They guard the lofty heights to whom the task 
Belongs, and the commander and the lew, 
His chosen leaders, sit in council sate, 
And 'gratulations oft and oft repeat 
O'er him, the ever persevering Grant, 
Defeated as they deem. 
And Pemberton: 

" We Ve checked the enemy's advance again ! 
His gunboats pushed their way along Yazoo 



And Bayou Steele, and Cyprus Lake, and reached 
The Rolling Fork by tortuous stream, and sought 
To pierce our lines above Haines' Bluff. 

And thus 
Success were his if reached Yazoo again, 
But in Big Sunflower's sluggish bed we stopped 
His labored way, and drove him back. 

What next 
Will he contrive ? " 

" Some plan," an aid replies, 
'" To reach us safe without our reaching- him. 
A flight above is his best course I ween. 
Our guns are not so trained to reach him there. 
If he but man balloons with heavy force, 
And hither drop his fifty thousand men, 
I fear we should be taken by surprise ; 
Aught less than this need not astonish us." 
And as in childhood's games the eager boy 
-Snatches the ball ere other outstretched hands 

15 



Succeed, so is the jovial theme caught up 
Amid its wordy flight. 

" Nay, he may dig 
A tunnel hither from yon swamps. The force 
The river drove from that canal may turn 
Their spades with equal profit to such task. 
Has he not sought to fashion nature over 
And readjust the rivers through the land ? 
This puny mimic of the Titans old 
Still dares Titanic deeds ! If such his plans 
A thousand more as futile may remain." 
To these their chief in juster mood replied: 
" If you were sent to capture Vicksburg here, 
What deep laid plan were yours ? It may not be 
Alone the foeman's fault he fails to £ain 
A foot hold, front or rear. Gibraltar this, 
Of all that thus are named the strongest far. 
Bayou and lake and river gird us round 
And lofty heights with works invulnerable, 

16 



Planned and replanned by skill nowhere surpassed. 
Not grim Sevastopol could equal this. 
I trow Td rather hold the place than take it!" 
Unchecked, but changed by these grave words, 

the stream 
Flowed sprightly still, and thus another spake: 
"And hold with ease while still the enemy 
Goes plunging through our tangled swamps. Canal 
He cannot use, nor finish, for that matter. 
Our Tiber fights oar battles well. Moon Lake, 
Cold Water, Tallahatchie join, and now 
The streams which clasped in warm embrace the 

foe 
Deserve enshrining. Here! a toast to these, 
The gods, aye, great or small, the river gods 
Who fight for Vicksburg, with defeat to Grant ! " 

Loud rang the jocund shout, and ready hand 
Obeyed the will, nor heard they deep and far 



The sentry gun upon the upper hills 
Hurl out its angry challenge to its foe. 
First Pemberton the notes of war perceived, 
As oft the shock of pulsing thunder smote 
Above the sound of mirth, and sternly spoke: 
tl Silence ! What means that battery's salute ? 
The guns along the river's front seem all engaged! 
Go quickly, bring me word." 

And quick he went; 
But swifter than he went he swift returned 
Nor tarried with his message. "'Tis a fleet! 
Haste, haste and see ! The enemy appears. 
Boats iron ribbed and belching fiery death 
Lie low upon the river, while there hug 
The far shore transports light, revealed by gleam 
Of cannon's flaming mouth." 

Astonished much, 
Each silence kept, till soon his speech he found. 
And Pemberton: 

iS 



"What, safe? Our heavy guns 
Should blow them from the stream ! It cannot be 
Gunboats may dare our long blockade, but not 
The river boats that only float on waves 
Peaceful and safe." 

"To see is to believe," 
The aid replied. 

And forth they passed to view 
A scene that war, tho' artist, tried and old, 
Skillful with pencil (dipped albeit in blood 
Alway), and painting pictures sad and grand 
Or red with cruelty, nor painting two 
Alike, ne'er equaled in his youth or prime; 
Night was the canvas, lit by cannon's flame! 

Black o'er a surging river hung a heaven 
That gleamed anon with redder stars than e'er 
Flamed splendor earthward; sudden meteor lights 
Unorbited, and fading instantly; 

19 



Comets from chaos born with circling path 
And trail of flame, did seem to strand themselves 
And burn their hearts out, yonder on the hills. 
And shapes on shore but guessed at, indistinct, 
Dim shadowy outlines, demons dark of wrath, 
Took on the sudden form of lightnings fierce 
And sounded thund'rous, terrible, till earth 
Trembled. The air in palpitations beat 
Its fear, and wav'ring shrieks and stern commands 
Jostled th' infernal whistling screams of things, 
That shot in unmarked paths their unseen weights, 
Resistless voices, taught their speech in Hell. 
And all the city felt the black imp's breath, 
Whose heavy* wing low drooped on shore and 

stream. 
And then the sudden splendor ! 
Light on bluff, 
And by the blazing boat upon the wave ! 
Till passed the weird and ghostly fleet, and passed 



The dread surprise that froze all hearts with fear. 
Back to their council room they silent passed, 
Nor soon the former quip and jest resumed. 
And gravely Pemberton : 

" What number these, 
The transports ? " 

" Three or four," an aid replied, 
" That passed us safe, and one destroyed." 

"And what 
Their purport ? " 

"'Tis another of Grant's plans." 
"Nay," said a third, "the Blunderer has hope 
In happy blundering to find escape 
From certain doom." 

" 111 reasoned," Pemberton 
Made answer; "yet amid conjectures all, 
He means, I think, but this, to get supplies. 
His troops below have seemed on forage bent; 
And then, beside, such act would tend to keep 
In other minds the thought of something done." 




■ The mazy labyrinth of winding stream 
And spreading flood, untangled was at last." 



: - ---■■ 





The "thick- lipped mortar." — Part I, Book 5. 

PART I.— BOOK 2. 

AR is the game of guess. This 
known and that 
Conjectured, then the march, the 
ISiV-HlF battle won, 

Or else the place and march and battle lost. 
Guessing the best or worst, doth win or lose. 
Write u incompleteness somewhere' 1 on each plan 
Of conflict since men gathered armies. Lo! 
Courage oft fails, leagued with a limping guess, 
And feebleness hath won where guess was hale. 

23 



He wisest is, whose guesses straightest fly 
From peak to peak of knowledge, o'er a sea 
Unknown between. Great captains those who see 
The peaks. But they who go peak hunting, lack 
The stamp of greatness; they who look and look, 
In the still hour before the strife and storm, 
And see no point uplifted as a sign. 
And such was Pemberton, peak hunting now, 
Here, where before we saw him 7 mid the night, 
O'erwhelmed with conflict dread and new. 

A score 
Of days and twain hath April wept and smiled, 
Changeful of moods, now fav'ring friend, now foe, 
Nor yet hath time the question solved, oft asked, 
What plan the fed'ral chief pursued. 

'Tis night. 
Again uncertain, he who Vicksburg holds 
Would find solution, and his words are these: 
"And still the movement south goes on! Can Grant 

24 



So foolish be that now he hopes to gain 
A solid footing on this side, while stand 
The works of Warrenton and stronger works 
Below? Grand Gulf our second Vicksburg is. 
And well the river guards our line between, 
Save Congo Island ; and the foe who dares 
A landing there, goes to his doom. And if, — 
A thing impossible — the strong works fell, 
The road but leads the foe along to death. 
No troops could force Black River's bluffs when 

manned 
As we could man them ere he came. No ! No ! 
'Tis but an effort made to cut us off from help, 
Supplies, and men, from Texas and the West ; 
Or else to join the forces farther down 
And seize the points less strong. Remotely still 
This threatens Vicksburg, but not now ; — 

What sound 
Is that ? 

2 5 



— It cannot be — and yet I'll see: — 
Again the thundershock from guns that man 
The river batteries ! 

— A second fleet 
Of transports ! Aye, and onward — ! 

Curse the guns ! 
As well have " quakers " for the good they do. 
Aye ! talk of Grant with jeer and sneer ! a thing 
Of withering scorn yon transport is. A sneer 
At these high hills with meaning to it. Curse, 
Ah, doubly curse the guns, each worthless piece, 
That boasts so long and loud and acts so low. 
To send a fleet of transports by ! Why, soon, 
Without more effort they may start a line, 
And "ticket through, " from Cairo to the Gulf. 
A fleet of transports ; merest shells that dare 
The shotted wrath of monster guns that hold 
In their long grasp this shore a score of miles ! 
Dare ? Yes, and do, most easily, for there 

26 



Beyond the bluffs of Warrenton they go ! 
One sunk ? What of it ? All the rest remain. 
This means hot work. Madness ? There's method 

there. 
If Grant can pass our front , so may he go 
At will to any landing place he finds 
Unoccupied. We cannot hold each inch 
Of land upon the eastern shore. 

That fleets 
Of iron, or equipped for naval fight, 
To give us shot for shot, should seek to pass 
Our boasted batteries, surprises not. 
But transports ! 

And not once, but twice, and be 
Successful ! Hurl the guns from place at once, 
And give free way, — save thus the cost of shelling. 
What's this ? 

A courier with message sent 
With speed from trusty Bowen at Grand Gulf. 



' The enemy with heavy force is at Hard Times.'' 
The plan is plain. Grand Gulf will be assailed ; 
And if it fall the place so coveted, 
A base for operations on this side, 
Will at the last be found. 

To Stevenson 
Must order go: 'what troops we here may spare, 
Hold read)' as a reinforcement small, 
Grand Gulf to aid, or nearer Warrenton.' " 

28 



PART I.-BOOK 3. 




MARS! thou blood-stained, thou man- 
slaying Mars, 
Stormer of Walls ! Not ended yet 
thy toil. 

Discord to thee is grateful still, and Wars. 
Or if not now in equal strife the gods 
Contend, like spirit stirs th' uneasy mind 
Of mortals. And be mine the task to mark 
Their fates who strive, the single hero lost 
In host heroic. Nor the rest, nor march, 



29 



Nor bloody field that sees the right, omit. 

Not least their work who through the lowland 

toiled, 

1 Mid wave and mire, what time in ease their foe 

Did wait in scornful calm upon his hills. 

The mazy labyrinth of winding stream 

And spreading flood, untangled was at last, 

And what seemed purposeless and scattered wide 

Took shape and head. 

The gathering army placed 

Its heavy van, unlooked for, far beyond 

Sweep of the city's guns or column's charge. 

And these who active were the while we sat 

With Pemberton in council safe, attend ! 

Nor elsewhere wait than with these few 

Whose rank is naught, but private soldiers they ; 

A friendly group, as oft they met and talked 

O'er deeds achieved, or guessed the farther plan, 

Or mayhap spoke of home the ne'er forgot. 

List, while the random stream of converse runs. 

30 



" My sleep was soundly sweet last night, the sleep 
That soothes the righteous. Well ! perhaps the 

inarch 
Through fearful storm and many a miry mile 
From Smith's plantation had part in 't. Ye gods ! 
Preserve me from the like again. I thought 
The marching from the Bend was hard enough, 
When on the narrow top of what levee 
The water left, and one by one, we went. 
' Twas mire below, and rain above, and when 
Your foothold yielded, water on the flank : 
I speak in language military. Yea, 
Much more, to be exact. If to besiege 
Is to surround on ev'ry side the place, 
Then once the water held me under siege. 
I loved, a boy, to coast right well in days 
We talk of now as long ago, but not 
Such coasting as I practiced then. To slide 
Through mud and measure what the depth might be 

31 



Of water half way up on either side 

The path that formed the only ground to tread. 

But that was Paradise to yesterday ; 

The flat barge ferry o'er the bayou wide 

Did land us once again upon the shore, 

The same long shore we 'd traveled on : not wide 

Nor long enough indeed this time we found. 

What excellent appearance wore the men 

Who formed the grand advance on Vicksburg 

town, 
When halted at that Crevasse ! 

The levee 
Was gone, and wild the waters swept before, 
And land ahead could no man see. The trees 
On either hand waved free their leafy tops 
But bathed their bodies in the flood. Half score 
Of feet in depth the water lay. And then 
The boats from great boards fashioned round, they 

brought, 

3* 



Frail shells that dodged the forest trunks, and bore 
The heavy freight amid the cypress knees 
Only to land it still where mud and mire 
Usurped the solid land. E'en mules did scorn 
Such travel. More than one leaped overboard, 
And slowly did their ears from fond sight fade 
Seen on dry land by federals never more. 
New Carthage ! What a town it is ! and yet 
In these abandoned houses here last night 
Was shelter from the storm. And so my sleep 
Was sweet." 

" Nor heard the cannons' roar ? " 

" No, what ? " 
" The deep report came sixty miles along 
So loud to wake me. 

Vicksburg's guns again 
With shot and shell would stay the passing fleet 
Of gunboats and their charges. You can see 
The shot-scarred transports yonder at the shore ! r 

2 33 



And seized with one desire they turned their steps 
Where now secure, the battered, shattered hulls 
Lay happy, swinging up and down, as if 
They felt the sweet relief from danger passed 
And knew no care on this calm morn, beneath 
The friendly shelter of the tree-hid shore. 
Grim guardian gunboats, here and there made fast 
With cable circling some thick, gnarled trunk, 
Frowned black, with wrath pent up in iron hearts, 
Forgiving and forgetting naught. A barge 
Amid that strife cast loose, slow floating by, 
Delayed, now met their eye, and slow passed on. 
The peaceful spell o'er all things resting now 
Seemed doubly strange. A deed so great, and now 
A morn so calm ! As if all acts of man 
Surprised not Nature, nor were worth her note. 
Against the burcVning thought, contending speech 
At last found strength to cope, and thus one 
spoke : 

34 



"We live in days of glory new and great, 
And . record proud is this for Hist'ry's page, 
Matching a deed that stood so vast alone.'" 
" Like thoughts my comrade has," another said, 
" And since they first defied the cannon's wrath 
With transports, he has sought to tell in verse, 
The story bold ! I have it here unknown, 
And ere he sends it north, I thought but fair 
We who best know, should of its merits judge. 
It opens where the crews their boats did leave 
And soldiers rushed to fill their places. List ! 

k A call for volunteers! The General has need 
of the boats yonder, and the crews refuse to run 
them. A call for volunteers! Who HI man the 
boats to -pass the batteries, and dare the vengeance 
of all Vicksburgf Engineers ive need, and fire- 
men; yes, from the -pilot down, we ask for men. 
Ho, Volunteers ! whose willing spirit volunteered 
in months long gone, hear ye this second call for 

35 



volunteers ! Tour names again! Who first -will 
lead the TvayP 1 

Hear the shout ! as the word flies by, 
1 I go] ' Pm another] and see 
How high and low for the honor vie, 
In danger first, or death, if it be. 
Never the like before was seen 
Tho' now the world is old, 
Never the like to startled ears 
By any tongue was told. 

The new crews man the deserted boats, 
And all is dark and heavy and damp, 
As down the river each vessel floats 
From the shelt'ring shore, and friendly camp. 
Silent as death they ride their course, 
Targets frail for the iron ball, 
Certain to come with awful force, 
To be answered not at all. 

36 



Endure while hand is to learn desistance ! 

Did you know its grip on the soul 

Has wrench more deathly than fierce resistance ? 

Few shrink 'mid the battle's roll; 

But to be still, stand still, and take it, 

Flinching not, nor afraid, 

This is clear grit and naught can shake it, 

Here the heroes are made ! 

Twinkles merrily each far light 

Where heights that hide the enemy loom. 

Red flowers opening 'mid the night, 

But drooping low at noon of its gloom. 

And silently still the moments go, 

The foe sleeps well, I ween ; 

Thanks to the night and their slumber deep 

The boats pass by unseen. 

37 



Hark ! Was it thunder ? Ah, storm, indeed ! 
Peal on peal with the lightning's flame ; 
Solid clouds with their deadly bolts 
And wrath of Hell whatever its name. 
See on the shore ! the gloom is gone, 
Up, fiercely, flames the fire, 
Houses are blazing now to light 
The strife so grand, so dire. 

Sight remembered forever ! Lo, 

Crowds the city into its streets. 

Sweeps the shot from the floating foe, 

Dauntless courage the wild storm meets ! 

Lost are their homes that crown the height, 

And lost the city fair, 

If in spite of the batteries' might 

Safe pass the transports there. 

38 



*Tis a fear undefined, but its spell 

Fires and freezes the hearts of them all. 

For none might plainly the peril tell 

Beyond the crash of the cannon ball. 

Never did men so watch before 

The battle on land or sea ; 

For a tremor shakes the frightened poise, 

Where hangs their destiny. 

Joy, joy to the city now ! 

The river comes with touch of a friend, 

It takes the helm and it takes the prow, 

Leading in circles that never end. 

Hurl ye the shot and shell at will, 

O, mountain walls of fire ! 

Leap to your tasks, the boats rest long 

Beneath your vengeful ire. 

39 



Round and round in the circle of death, 
Round and round in the grip of the wave, 
Boats unused to the war storm's breath, 
Yet the wrath of the storm must brave. 
Hurl ye the shot and shell at will, 
From blazing mountain wall! 
Laugh in your sport, the fleet rests long 
Where best your shot may fall. 

Toy, joy to the watcher's eye ! 

The Are is the city's friend, for lo ! 

The flames are leaping aloft and high 

Where floats the Clay in its path of woe. 

Hurl ye the shot and shell at will 

O mountain walls of fire ! 

Yonder the burning boat reveals 

Where best may fall your ire. 

4 o 



Roar the cannon from gunboat grim, 
Sweeping all the streets of the town, 
And roar the cannon from yon height's rim, 
Hurling death on the vessels down ! 
Echoes the roll of storm so dire, 
From far hills dark and high, 
Thunders that gather and return, 
With war's deep battle cry. 

Joy in turn to the floating host ! 
For 'mid the din of the awful fray, 
Bursts the gun, of the foe the boast, 
Sending its shock o'er the waves away. 
Joy to the transports now. Hurrah ! 
They heed the thrall no more, 
Breaking the eddy's grasp of death, 
The} 7 flee the fatal shore. 

41 



Down the river and far below, 
Safely speeds the fleet in its course; 
Braving the wrath of the lower foe, — - 
Warrenton's thunders oft and hoarse. 
But fading away like will-o'-the-wisp, 
The light more dimly grows, 
Suddenly dies, and darkness falls, 
In silence o'er the foes. 

Darkness, silence, unbroken, deep ! 

And what is changed in life for them there. 

Where, weary, the city's defenders sleep, 

Forgetting the conflict's wracking care ? 

Duties like those of the day passed by r 

They'll meet again with dawn, 

But from their lives has something sweet T 

Forevermore withdrawn. 

42 



Story true of the daring new, 

Feeble words for wonderful deeds ! 

Who from the crew of the brave and few, 

Bravest were in meeting the need? 

Never the like before was seen, 

Tho' now the world is old, 

But of them all shall some be found 

Beyond the others, bold ? 

Brave were all of the great hearts there, 

Yet write on high with the names of the true, 

Keeping place with the boats to dare, 

*Conway's vessel, captain and crew. 

Not in their place the soldiers wrought, 

What yet 'twas theirs to do; 

Not in their work the boatmen's task, 

Where yet belonged the crew. 

• « The Forest Queen, Captain Conway, was the only transport whose cap- 
tain Wrf not receive volunteers as a crew, but her own officers ^and I crew 
stuck to their boat and carried her safely below the V 1C ksburg batteues. - 
Sherman's Autobiography. Vol. i, Page 3 i8. 

43 



Brave were all of the hearts and bold, 
But highest write of the names so true, 
Those of men in the darkened hold, 
Be they soldiers, or be they crew, 
Who in the darkness watched unseen, 
Where the crashing cannon ball 
Into the hull might lead the wave, 
To swallow them one and all. 

Honor highest for these brave souls ! 
Doing, daring the humblest deed; 
Filling the breaks in the shattered hulls, 
* Weapons, cotton! — this was their need. 
Honor for all who dare unseen, 
What tasks may lie below ! 
For the deed is best, and the doer blest, 
Tho' the world may never know. 



* According to Badeau these men were supplied with bags of cotton and 
the like, to thrust into the openings, if made by shells, under the water line. 



Not writ too strong. I but regret our march 
Was ordered ere this one great chance occurred 
Once in a lifetime, not to come again. 
Ah ! proud may be the men who wrought this 

deed !" 
" Come, see one of them ! pilot on the boat :* 
So spake the one come later, grave of mien, 
Upon whose brow the snowflakes, few and first, 
Of life's gray winter had already fall'n. 
Then drew they near a house left vacant, now 
A hospital, with yet but one within, 
Whose voice they heard, beseeching, piteous, 
The while they came and stood beside the door. 
" O God ! will not the surgeon amputate 
This bleeding limb and give me life ? I beg 
For life ? Take money, what the price you will ! 
Out from my whole heart's depth, for love of God, 
I beg, cut quick this limb away. Spare not ! 
Welcome the pain as sharp as death, I'll bear it, 

45 



But give we hope, O give me hope of life !" 
Quick in their sympathies one sought reply: 
" Why do they wait ? Can they be still and hear?" 
To him the elder soldier answer gave : 
u If you but look you'll see the bleeding hip 
Is shattered, struck by solid cannon ball." 
Sharp tho ' the steel and skillful tho ' the hand, 
Attempered to its work with tend 'rest care, 
His life would go ere yet the task was clone. 
Young as he is, he yet must die ; not easily, 
But from the vig'rous frame the soul be drawn 
With torturing pain through many weary days. 
What if ten thousand bolts had gone amiss, 
And vain the lightning from the ramparts flashed, 
And cannon thundered through the night ? One shot 
Has done its work. And what to him the fame, 
And what the glory to the far home friends ? 
I Sad comfort, when beneath the awful blow, 
The crushed hearts bleeding He. 



I doubt me much, 
If ever war were right. Can cruelty, — 
For 'war is cruelty and can not be refined,' — 
Be right!" 

These words another heard, who joined 
The group ; poet, whose verse by stalwart theft, 
Unblushingly confessed, others had heard. 
And as with lingering step they turned away, 
The theme he took, dissenting : 
" Nay, not so. 
Your words, while sounding right, I feel are wrong, 
Wrong, if they stand against all strife alway, 
And yet amid the weary clash of words, 
Conflict the doubtful one to me ofttimes, 
I only see and feel that this is truth. 
He only rightly strives who measures well 
The object as of value with the price 
Which must perforce be paid, if comes the call, 
The price so weighty with its grief and pain, 



For in such conflict lofty principle 

Its value finds. What soul of man or land 

Its destined birth and birthright e'er hath known 

Save through the pangs of travail not its own ? 

And entrance to the nobler Life lay straight 

Through Death's dark gates. And yet that nobler 

Life, 
Crowning the soul uncrowned and helpless else, 
With glory only less in dazzling light, 
The splendor of a radiance infinite, 
Was worth the pang of death it cost. 

And so 
The soul of lands, where liberty and home 
Shall shine in purity and grow in pow'r, 
The likest thing to God's own land and home, 
The only fitting earthly dwelling place 
For soul delivered and made free with price, 
Is worth the buying and the saving. He 
Who rightly strives must know the cause is great, 

4 8 



And of such value as will match the price 
Paid now, as long ago, in blood and grief. 
Thus, war for glory can be only wrong, 
And he who fights for glory always errs. 
But if upon the honest motive blooms 
The beauteous flow'r of worthy deed achieved, 
Then glory wears the hue of triumph just ; 
There may it soften grief and bring the balm 
That while it cures not, soothes the sting of pain." 
"I greatly fear, the first replied, "you measure ill 
The argument, since suff'ring deep and dire, 
Men meet whose souls are black with crime, whose 

hands 
Are red with blood for selfish purpose shed, 
That yet hath seemed the pain's equivalent. 
Better thy words enweave thy thought, that left 
War's outline . be, with horrid front, to stir 
Dread in all hearts, lest else familiar grown 
He keep our company. Always, since first 

3 49 



The impious Lamech boasted loud of deed 
Blood) 7 and cruel, claiming vengeance high, 
The sevenfold wrath of God for slaughtered Cain, 
Dwarfed in the seven and seventyfold revenge, 
Which his hand took upon his enemy, 
So sword has flashed its lurid gleam, the more, 
Sweep seventyfold in hand of wrong, than sent 
Its ray of hopeful light the seven times on, 
Ordered of God!" 

" Yet place so . ordered has," 
Quick spake the poet. " Are we babes and know 
Distinction none between the selfish cause, 
And cause that keeps a continent of hearts 
In their high boon of equal liberty ? 
War is a giant, all uncouth and grim, 
But sometimes in a world of ill, remote 
From the far days of universal peace, 
Needed. His strength of worth if that strength be 
Like Samson's, to upheave the pillared roof 

so 



Of Wrong's great temple, and in acts so large, 

At last to reach supreme, decisive hour, 

And find his tomb 'mid wrecks of strife, the last." 

" In truth," the soldier grave replied, " your hope 

Were passing fair, but long ago, methinks, 

This giant should have died, if strife could slay." 

" Slow wheel the years of an eternal God," 

The poet answered; "yet his cause is just, 

Albeit conflict mightier is waged, 

Than shock of earthly battle. But there comes, 

And surely, dawn of day at last, that sees 

All conflict ended. 'Till that hour, I hold, 

' Tis each man's task to measure each his day, 

Dark with the gathering storm of war, onblown 

By winds not loosened through his sin, and mark 

Its purpose high, unselfish, reaching far 

Along the years, with gathering good; or note 

Its dwarfing, deadly, selfish aims, ill now, 

More ill in growing strifes and wrongs, the days 

Si 



The future brings. This can he do, and thus 
His place and act decide." 

"In this I hear," 
The other answered, "brave defense for life 
Now followed." u Call it so," the poet said, 
" If thus it please you, and in truth no strife, 
More plainly meets my thoughts of right. 

Two lands, 
Two flags that flutter over hating hearts ? 
A score of years had not their story told, 
Ere shock of awful conflict sounded far, 
To which our own were child's play. 

Then, if peace, 
Peace, mail-clad ! Armed hosts in menace held, 
Eyeing each other. Cadmus come again, 
To sow the awful seed broadcast, and earth 
Fruitful alone in warriors, — crop of death — 
Draining the soil's strength ere its time. A day 
Of this more deadly than a thousand years 

52 



Of peace. Hatreds unending ; wars and wars ; 
Divisions more, a score of States, and then, 
War still ! Now tw.o at war, then all, and this 
Forever ! 

Strong contempt our own ; a life 
By suff 'ranee from the vaster powers afar, 
Whose selfish greed would seek its fill at hour, 
Most opportune. 

Instead of" wasted life 
And with'ring freshness thus, one Nation free, 
One Nation grand in might at home, abroad 
One Nation, held in honor, and when meet 
Commanding fear. Its form colossal, strength 
Colossal, and its purpose for man's good 
Colossal ! Aye, we may not doubt we wage 
War just ; and flashing sword hath lightning gleam 
Touched by God's finger. 

Be it writ and large 
Upon the banners of the coming years, 

53 



"They heard his voice who kept their country one." 
" And this I may admit," the answer made, 
" If to my thought you grant a fair consent : 
That never is there reason just for war, 
Where life so sadly withers, save in life 
Preserved direct, and granted liberty. 
And never this, it may be, but if e're, 
So plainly this that blinded eyes can see. 
If this it were not with us, perish war ! 
Read thus your meaning, then your words are true: 
' They heard his voice who kept their country one.' " 
Then summoned, one for guard, one for " fatigue," 
Du.ties uncrowned and common, they obeyed, 
And parting, each his own way willing went. 

54 




And such was Pemberton, peak hunting, ro " 
Here, where before we saw him.- Part I, B >ok 4. 




PART I.-BOOK 4. 
VICKSBURG ! beautiful upon your 

hills, 
Home-hidden Vicksburg all embowered, 
'mid trees 

Whose swaying arms embrace, conceal, yet toss 
Deftly their veiling branches, that the eye 
May see thy glist'ning jeweled terraces, 
Where cottage white and stately home appear, 
— Gems, on the broad breast of thy massive bluff; 

55 



Know'st thou that o'er thee now thine angel folds 
Her wings of hope and sadly plumes for flight ? 
Two days, and sunny May will kiss the flowVs 
Ye bring her, winsome as the day that first 
Blushed in a glad surprise and sweet delight, 
On Eden once so fair and lost so long. 
Two days ; yet thoughts more stern than garlands need 
Were well, and while thou plannest pleasant hours, 
A sterner thought engages him whose care 
The city is. His presence seek, and note 
The words his aid receives. 

"Away with haste ! 
Tell Johnston we have urgent need for men ! 
That Grant at Hard Times, holds in hand 
Large force, with barge and transport at the shore, 
And. Grand Gulf now is threatened with assault, 
And Vicksburg next."" And to another, this : 
"The troops I ordered, have they gone?" 

56 



" They have," 
Was answered, " and ere this they should have come 
In easy reach of any threatened point." 
And while he answered spoke a breathless aid : 
" The enemy is giving signs of life 
Above the bluffs ! Something's afoot ! The word 
Has come that transports weighted down with troops 
Are ready at the Bend to move at once ! 
The iron-clads have steam up even now." 
u Is the force large ?" 

" Ten thousand at the least." 
u Find what you can of this ! A feint, perhaps." 
And forth he went to find no more, no less 
Than known before, and thus again reports : 
u I can but say the word seems verified ! 
Already yonder steam the iron-clads 
And many transports." 

" Whither seem they bound !" 
"Just now the fleet is headed towards Yazoo." 

57 



The puzzling problem thus the Gen'ral weighs : 
" Is this his real aim, and has he sought 
Deception merely from the south ? The way 
Sharp hedged with difficulty and unknown, 
Would argue yes. And if we sent large force 
From here, 'twere easy then to take the town. 
Has Grant thus planned; is thus this move explained ? 
Ill can the city bear the loss of men 
Now gone ; and who the high result may guess, 
If from the north the heavy move is made ? 
Quick ! order back the troops last sent !" 
And to his weary ride the aid departs, 
And fails not, but the morn of May has come, 
Ere to his chief he brings report. Scarce there, 
When Pemberton himself prevents his speech. 
"The force has gone. Nowhere the fleet appears. 
With much display they only played at war." 
"Then these I brought," the aid replied, "have 
marched 

58 



With utmost haste in vain, from camp just pitched r 
Full sixty miles without a rest. They came 
To save the city, safe enough. ' Twill prove 
No worse, I hope, by giving Grant less men 
To fight at Warrenton, or farther south." 
And while he spake a messenger arrived, 
With cry : " The enemy at Bruinsburg, 
On yesterday did land and gained the hills, 
Without resistance. Bowen marched all night, 
And now engages his large force. His troops, — 
The Grand Gulf garrison, with only help 
Of one or two brigades sent on from here." 
" At , Bruinsburg ! And who could guess that 

point ! 
But why, with greater force has Lori'ng failed? n 
Spoke one surprised, whose rank inferior was ; 
Surprised no less his chief, who answer made : 
" The time was short, and Grant was quick,. 

that's all ! 

59 



Make ev'ry effort now to reinforce 
Our army there and hold the foe at bay. 
To Johnston haste, deliver this dispatch, 
* Since daylight furious fight has waged below 
Port Gibson. Grant can cross his every man 
At Bruinsburg, and threatens Jackson now, 
And if he wins that point hems Vicksburg in, 
And shuts Port Hudson fast against our need. 
Large reinforcements send and send at once." 

60 




On that side they 
To hurl these fiery demons down.-PART I, Book 2. 

PART I.-B00K 5. 

WHITE stone by the wayside of the life 
Led by the soldiers, was the day the mail 
Came in. Groups, eager, gathered round, 

15; while one, 

Captain or orderly, the names read loud, 
And outstretched hands received the missive light. 
O days of battle ! days of marches long ! 
Crown that day queen that brings the tidings near, 
To cheer the hearts of men from homes remote, 
And give a glimpse of sunshine through the cloud. 

61 




Stronger are they when this invisible wine 

Runs through their veins, uplifting sinking hopes, 

Till the dull heart beats bold to words of love. 

This day has come unlooked for in the camp ; 

The shout rings forth that gathers ev'ry where 

Glad men. And some rejoice, and some, more sad, 

Return to feed upon their idle thoughts. 

And as the long day passes, here and there, 

Busy the pens fly with their answering words. 

And thus writes he, the poet, to his home: 

"Here safe, and idle for an hour, in shade 

Of tender citadel by mine own hand 

Upbuilt, in fact a sort of Jonah's Booth, 

(No tents we Ve had for now a month or more,) 

IT1 rest, and write of things occurring. 

Well, 
Our camp which lay upon the wasted lands 
Of Perkins' water-swept plantation, broke, 
And some afoot, though footing scarce was found, 

62 



And some in boat and barge, passed on to wait 
At Hard Times, orders sure to come, and soon. 
One barge lay sunk ; but bailed and patched and 

pitched 
By men who floated in it afterward, 
It brought them inongst the foremost, where the 

heights 
Of Grand Gulf loomed upon the eye. But while 
Our column marched aboard and climbed 
The slippery staging to our place, we heard 
A cry that pierced our hearts ljke cleaving steel. 
One we had known, in passing from the boat 
To barge beyond, by sad misstep went down, 
And tho' he rose, above him lay the boat, 
And tho' his cry was heard, no hand could help. 
The story sad in verse I sought to tell. 

*3 



OUT OF THE DARKNESS, A VOICE. 



The night was dark on the river, 

Sweeping its current by, 
The night was dark on the lowland, 

And dark was the cloud-robed-sky; 
And into the darkness and silence 

Slow as from lids of Pain, 
Fell, but a few in a moment, 

The great sad tears of the t rain. 

The night was dark on the river, 

Sweeping its current by, 
With lift and push at the vessels, 

That under the shore did lie. 
And ever, with many halting, 

Still nearer the column drew 
Where the torch of the boat upkindled,, 

Flared fiercely the shadows through. 

O darkness of earth and heaven! 

O clouds! with the falling tears, 
With heart of the weary soldier 

Did ye mingle your sighs and fears? 

64 



For into the silence and darkness 
Where, waiting our time to go, 

Impatient we stood all burdened, 
Rang a cry of deathly woe. 

A voice! no more in the darkness, 

Red with the blood of the heart 
That uttered farewell to living 

As torn from its love apart. 
"What means it?" the whispered question, 

" This cry, half a shriek, half moan, 
With a living anguish pulsing 

Each chord of the wordless tone? 

O answer of grief and sadness 

That tells of a comrade's death! 
His path lay hid in the darkness, 

The river was deep beneath, 
And lo! in the darkness, the angel, 

Whose wings are of sable hue, 
Waited, unseen, his coming, 

And spake, and the spirit knew. 

The soul, long waiting the message, 
Gladly may rise to go, 

K 65 



But Youth, with life all before it, 
Must shudder that voice to know. 

And startled, the soul could not answer 
The summons of death so soon, 

And clung at the yawning portals 
Flung wide ere the hour of noon. 

O voice of terrible anguish 

That rang on the startled air! 
Like the cry of the Human Shrinking 

In the Christly cry of despair! 
Yet out of the Death deemed hopeless, 

The Hope of Life came white, 
And out of that Strife, Peace softly 

As drawn from the storm and night. 

O Land! shall this, in thy mourning, 

A token of glad hope be? 
Shall the cry that came from the darkness 

Be signal of good to thee? 
Aye, the life of thy sons thus shortened 

Thy dearer life shall prolong, 
And their stalwart strength be yielded 

Only to make thee strong! 

66 



Though night be dark on the river 

- Sweeping its current by, 

Though night be dark on the lowland 

And dark the cloud-robed sky, 
Yet darkness to dawn of the morning 

And gloom to the day shall grow, 
For paid is the price for Freedom 

In the heart's red drops of woe. 

The land we touched in sight of enemy 
Waved brightly green with feath'ry, rustling corn, 
Brushing the knee that hurried by, and grew 
So clean that well it pleased the practiced eye 
Of more than one, who sighed for fields like that 
To conquer, under other skies. With dawn, 
Long lines of watchers from the only height, 
The near levee ; strained anxious eyes to see 
The low, strong iron-clads with steady stroke 
Move grimly down against their hidden foe. 
Look! curls the smoke midway the height, and lo, 
The plunging shot the armor strikes, to glance 

67 



And sink beneath the foe it meant to harm* 
Loud peals the thunder from the river fleet,. 
As to and fro, above, below, and close 
Beneath the mighty hills they go. The shock 
Of whirling shot their brave sides feel, and oft 
They reel beneath the volleyed storm of death 
Sent hurtling hard against the foeman's front. 
Now hangs the smoke above the river broad, 
And climbs and hugs the farthest height beyond. 
' Tis vain ! Though great their might, yet stronger far 
Than we had thought, and line on line the foe 
Lay safe to wait what force should seek to land, 
And sheltered meet the shelterless.* 
Beyond this barrier must we march, and soon 
Along the river's side below r we camp. [darts 

Night comes. Look, look I That flash ! see how it 



*"The rebel batteries were too elevated for Porter to accomplish any- 
thing; he was not able to dismount a solitary piece, and it would have 
been madness to attempt a landing under unsilenced guns like these."* 
—Badeau } Vol. /, Page igg. 



From bluff to bluff, like livid lightning's leap 
From -cloud to cloud! 

Drum-beat of thunder now 
Strikes its deep note ; a roll call that would wake 
The sleeping underworld, if not awake 
Already ! Aye, again, again have dared 
The transports all the vengeance of the foe. 
And here * floats one, and there another rides, 
And all escape that Pandemonium 
Let loose amid the gloom that fits such play. 
Shot-shattered, some, and crippled, yet with life 
Full strong to bear the army to the field, 
That somewhere should the land's high fate decide. 
Dim was the light as to the morning roll 
We answered, some to answer nevermore. 
Upon the transports rank on rank we press 
'Till in the multitude compact seems lost 
The man, and moving on the foe, one heart 
In massive body throbs defiant life. 

'69 



Bold be the soul to-day, for stroke on stroke 
Of circling wheel drives swift our course along, 
Where, now as yesterday, the foe lies hid, 
Nor gunboat leads the van with awful fire 
To daunt that foeman's courage ; and he notes 
With wonder and delight so rash an act 
As this on speeding transport's course. 

His guns 
Are trained ! At yonder water break he deems 
We pass the death line, and but waits to see 
Us sink beneath Grand Gulf's dread batteries. 
Ha! turns the prow, obedient to the helm, 
And in the scant room left, from danger hies, 
Taunting a disappointed foe. For oft 
War's scowling front will change its frown to scorn. 
Now on! our course, through scenes of smiling peace, 
To vie in beauty with the earth's fair vales, 
Ere yet the curse of thorns and labor fell! 
Here fields are green with corn; fair meadows lie, 

70 



And feeding flocks oft stop to gaze, alarmed, 
On sight so strange, but .soon forget their fear; 
While sometimes, from the homes on either shore 
The curling smoke is seen, uprising slow. 
Look eastward ! to the hills beyond this plain, 
Where yonder stately house its shoulders lifts 
Above the vassal and inferior trees. 
There watching, wrathful, men have stood, their 

forms 
Outlined, since first our warlike fleet drew near. 
Now, now, as swift to shore the gunboats lead, 
They disappear. But fear we not the word 
They, bear to foes, for while they speak they'll hear 
The footfall of our columns at their doors. 
Too late ! Too late ! O, messengers, ye- go. 
Behind, with swift and steady tread, the troops 
Of vet'ran courage, press to heights ye ought 
With force to hold, but leave unoccupied. 
O hills so long defiant ! now ye lie 

n 



Submiss beneath our feet. O vales between, 
With grass of green thick grown and high, and hid 
By welcome shade of spreading forest tree, 
Soft bend your conquered blades before the march 
Of the invader ! and half won the day. 
Here halt, and place the pickets to secure 
Yon road against surprise. Quick ! send details, 
That from the river rations may be brought, 
Less worth than time until these heights were gained. 
' Tis done ! With labor of a Hercules, 
They roll the rounded barrel on, and lift 
The weighty box o 7 er plain and hill, till seven 
Long, weary miles their perfect measure fill:* 
Scant time had we to sup, tho' fain and faint, 
When ' forward • is the cry, and on we pass 
From vale to hill, and through ravines so bridged 
With slender strength, that hostile hand could sweep 



* This is not mentioned in any published history, but in experience is, 
by some soldiers, more vividly remembered. 



The ev'ry crossing in an hour ; and where 
The early corn grows freshly to its strength, 
Swiftly the ceaseless march pursues its way. 
Past lowly huts from which the dusky forms 
Of friendly negroes crowd in wild amaze ; 
And one the blessing of a patriarch 
Extends, his trembling hands outstretched, his voice 
Brokenly sending through the night these words : 
4 God bress yoas all, God bress yous %vhar you o-o, 
But mighty Jot ob men hab come to fight you shuah, 
A nd Ps af eared you'll nebber mo' 1 come back, 

God bress you dough, and keep you berry safe J 

And still the ceaseless march pursues its way. 

Now, 'mid the shad'wy foliage of trees 

Whose leaves with sigh and quiver part and close 

Athwart the May-moon's soft and steady beams, 

That fitful fall upon our burnished steel, 

As with a heavy tread like muffled tone 

Of baffled thunder sounding, on and on, 

. 73 



* Resisted not, we haste to gain the fields 

So coveted, whose weighty price in blood 

Had been free-offered, when the call should come, 

The sharp, fierce call that came not, hour by hour. 

'Tis twelve! and midnight's awful silence broods 

A moment o'er the column's rest 'in place.' , 

' Tis two, as measured by yon wheeling bear, 

And breath of calm, like silence deep which stayed 

The multitudes of heaven, seems to fall 

Upon that weary line, the army's head. 

'Halt! Rest!' And sleep with glad wings comes to 

perch 
On heavy e3^e-lids driven oft away. 
Hark! hark! ' In line ! Advance, advance!' The guard 
Drives now the picket from his place, and crack 
Of rifle comes with oft and sharp report. 
No sleep till morn, nor then, and pulses leap, 



♦"The movement by Bruins.burg was, undoubtedly, a surprise," — Ba- 
deau, Vol. /, Page 211. 

74 



Deep stirred; and fleet the wild blood flows. 

Flies, whirls the battery to yonder hill 

To answer shot for shot the foeman's guns, 

Where flash of darting fire reveals their place. 

'Lie down!' command obeyed, when up the slope, 

At last, exhausted, following fast, the guns, 

We hold the hill, our cannon just before. 

Swift, rushing, horrible, the shells go by, 

Mad, tearing trees amain, whose -boughs, down hurled 

Alarm the snorting war-horse, all untried, 

Where darkness multiplies the terrors new. 

The long, slow hours to dawn are passed, and when 

We see the verdure fresh beneath the dew 

That answers, smiling, to the sun's bright touch, 

Kissing away its life into his own, 

— Would I could welcome dying so — uprose 

The storm of battle. Shall I e'er forget 

The strange emotion, sweeping all .my soul, 

As o'er the hill exposed to rapid fire 

75 



Of cannon masked, but soon unmasked, in range 
Most easy, pushed our column on. Come thoughts 
Of war by } T outh indulged in peaceful home, 
And tell me if ye rightly grew! What means 
This pallor, where the flush of eager joy 
At open warfare waged by brave, true men, 
Should hang its rosy banner out ? And is 
The white flag floating ? Nay, 't were false to say ! 
The heart beneath still sets its current true, 
And still the face, tho' white, looks toward the foe, 
And still the step, unshrinking, hastes to meet 
The nearer terror of the angry guns. 
What, but the protest nature, formed by hand 
That meant not war, but peace, hath giv'n to show 
That hiding strength almost, almost divine, 
The soul should rather burst its weaker bonds 
And reach its perfect stature 'mid the scenes 
Of peace ? Kept thus the true hearts' color fast 
In face that ne'er the true heart should betray. 

76 



Long swayed the lines while neither gained nor lost, 
And rifle's voice, short sharp and many tongued, 
The long, loud, thunder note of cannon joined, 
And swelled the roar along the echoing hills. 
But when the sun had climbed his central throne, 
With bay 'net set, we charged their batteries; 
Then guns so grim changed hands, and turned their 

wrath 
Upon their friends, our flying foe.* The deeds 
Of battle all, my pen can ill describe, 
Yet if I say the hills were steep and high, 
And overgrown with tall and slender canes 
Most dense, and that sometimes we climbed their sides 
With grasp upon their fragile stalks, and else 
Had reached nor height nor foe, you will not doubt 
1 Twas weary work the while death swept the field. 



* " Captain I. C. Dinsmore, of the 99th Ills., sprang upon one of the 
enemy's howitzers in Gen. Hovey's gallant charge, claimed it as his 
own, turned it upon the enemy, and fired at them." — Patriotism of Ill- 
inois. Vol. 1, Page 457. 

77 



But while the foe was beaten here, his right, 
Stubborn and brave, held fast its place; and we 
Stayed the pursuit of flying troops, and moved 
Our column to support our weary left. 
In long lines marched the soldiers down the slope, 
And soon were lost amid the maze of canes; 
And all unseen, still deadly, waged the strife, 
Who won, who lost, where met the foemen there, 
Was known, save only by the rifle's awful roar, 
Yet .marking line, invisible and dread, 
The night at last came on, and weary slept 
The victor host upon the field now won. 
Next morn the foe had fled, yet as we pressed 
* With slow, obstructed march through wilderness 
That closed compact before us, and behind, 
Compact the wall renewed so soon as passed, 
We found the silent forms of many a foe, 
Else seen no more till resurrection hour. 
As here we came we passed the May-clay pole, 

7* 



And grass crushed low beneath the flying feet 
Of merry dancers on the velvet sward. 
Low, deep and oft the thunder peal of strife 
Struck on their ears, yet thought they all, 'tis said, 
' Twas interchange 'tween passing gunboat far 
And Grand Gulf batteries. 

One brief hour more, 
And now again we press the flying foe. 
And as I write the voice of rifle speaks 
Where hungry foragers supply our needs, 
And yonder wagons found bring in the spoil. 
And as they come mine eyes new scenes behold. 
Here all the dusky children of the land, 
With thoughts of jubilee already dawned, 
In multitudes flock round us. Some enrobed 
In all the colors by the rainbow lent, 
And some almost unrobed like primal man, 
And even now a vet'ran mother hastes 
With troop of follow'rs, from the gray-haired son 

79 



To lively youth who starts the fourth or fifth 

Of generations on. Some are on foot, 

And some that may, do ride, and cushioned seat 

For them is soft as for their masters, once, 

And gorgeous, radiant apparel far 

Outshines itself upon a sable form. 

Possessions various and strange have they, 

And all their lives and hopes and fears are changed,, 

— A tossing sea with far unbounded shore, 

A chaos come upon this life and land! 

Shall ever order fair return and bless 

As erst it did the earth from chaos born?" 

So 



PART II.— BOOK i 




; * HE hour of destiny had struck! 

Across 
The . river broad the wounded boats had 
borne 

The army, such as first should meet the foe. 
Swift to the heights the troops had swept and when 
The eastern sky had blushed beneath the kiss 
Of eager morn, the deadly li^ht began. 
Back, back from height 10 height, from vale to vale, 
Through forest close, beneath magnolia's bloom, 

6 Si 



Where, frightened, flew the birds of May, and leapt 

The squirrel in a wild alarm, and on 

Through densest canebrakes, with a slow, sure step, 

The Federal army drove their stubborn foe. 

And now the shadows fall upon the third 

Of days victorious. 

The GenVal rests 
A moment brief, from writing long dispatch, 
Where lies the gunboat holding what was won, 
Grand Gulf, of greater Vicksburg, outer door. 
What movement next? The balance trembling hangs, 
While plans alternate press their rival claims: 
Whether the column southward still shall march 
And join our Captain where Port Hudson^ heights, 
Full steep as hangs the precipice, look down, 
— Grim pivotal of that broad gate, the South, 
Kept open still between their east and west, — 
And crushing this, with forces free return 
To burst the stronger bolts and barrier great, 

&2 



And open thus the highway to the sea, 
By indirection striking Vicksburg last, — 
Or shall we strike her now? 

A beaten foe 
Pursued a score of miles; the army led 
Thus tar towards Vicksburg or the capital, 
Or Big Black river bridge, the needed joint 
To that long throat through which all Vicksburg 

feeds, — 
Shall all abandoned be ? 

To turn the scale, 
This message brief from Banks, the General read: 
"Could reach Port Hudson only by the tenth," 
"And then the foe," mused Grant, "large force had 

gained. 
Each day's delay is worth two thousand men ! 
And should Port Hudson fall, twelve thousand troops 
That Banks could bring, would ill replace the loss 
Of reinforcements sent the enemy. 

83 



No gain no gain, were that ! 

One way remains. 
Here, heie my army lies, where half a year 
We sought to place it. Victory has crowned 
Its banners, and the heart of conqueror 
Beats now within each soldier's breast. In war 
The chance is staked on probabilities; 
And certain no man dares to hold his plan; 
Yet thus I cast the die : 

On Vicksburg's heights 
I plant the flag, or lose in the attempt. 
Thus far; but shall I march on Vicksburg straight? 
Full thirty thousand strong, it may be more, 
Lies Pemberton's array along the line 
Of railroad east, or in the city waits. 
Another army gathers in the east, 
Not far, of strength unknown, but watching mine, 
In numbers all too near to hope to gain 
Sure victory against their forces joined. 

84 



And I can bring for this, the first swift work, 
A little more than thirty thousand men, 
With others still to swell my force as I 
Shall prosper in my purpose ; it may be 
A total close to fifty thousand troop. 
But less than mine must now this army be, 
Which threatens all my right. I '11 crush it first, 
And hide nry plan from friend as well as foe. 
My base exposed ? I'll take my base along, 
And if the enemy should find it, — well! 
With three days' rations to the army giv'n 
To last it seven, if need be ; — and such need 
Has been before, — the land shall yield the rest. 
Rich proves the country 'round us, and I know 
' Tis possible. And victory? With men 
Like mine I doubt it not, but swift must be 
Each move. And if we fail ? Be mine the blame 
As mine it is to plan the game ! Great gain 
Comes never to those risking naught. And if 

85 



Gained this campaign, the gain is vastly more 

Than yet has fallen to our hands. To-night 

I turn my back upon this friendly stream, 

And whether seen again or not, I go." 

Thus thought the great Captain ! 

Soon should the army hear the word, "advance," 

To meet, with vigilance and action swift, 

The far divided forces of the foe, 

Aud beat them one by one. 

Perilous ! 

None had the plan before adopted, none. 

Perilous ! 

Supplies renewed from what the fields might give. 

Perilous ! 

With foe behind, before, on either flank. 

Perilous ! 

Yet with decisive act, less perilous 

Than long delay, our reinforcements small, 

While troop on troop should gather to the foe, 

86 



Whose numbers soon would double thus our own. 
'Twas done ! and in the Nation's history 
The hour of sure deliverance rang out ! 
The hour of hope had come, and henceforth wheeled, 
Mayhap but slowly yet alway along, 
The pointing ringer to the noonday full. 
Henceforth to plan the daring enterprise, 
Henceforth to live where'er the foeman lived 
Became a thing of ease. The great seed grew 
To greater flow'r and fruit; not aloe-like, 
But swiftly climbing to its grand estate ; 
And all the nation hailed its perfect form. 

87 




"From Champion Hill the line extend along.' 



PART II.— BOOK 2. 




STORY somewhere men have told of 

life 
'Mid western wilds and savage wan- 



tonness, 

Where once, at dead of night, the house was stormed, 
And in one room so dark no eye could see, 
Met the defenders and their cruel foe. 
The fight went on in silence, some slight stir 
Or touch alone directing where to strike ! 
Nor saw they where the foe was tho' they knew. 

8 9 



So in the day or darkness, these who fought 
Where vast the field was, each the other sought 
Unseeing, waging blind the game of war. 
Upon this night where stumbles war blindfold, 
Now shall the lightning of descriptive words 
Gleam, and reveal the place of actors each, 
First, read this brief dispatch, just sent by Grant. 

Cayuga, Miss., May n, 1S63. 
My force will be this evening as far advanced towards 
Jackson as Fourteen Mile Creek, the left near Black River, 
and extending in a line as nearly east and west as they can 
get without bringing on a battle. As I shall communicate 
with Grand Gulf no more, except it becomes necessary to send 
a train with heavy escort, you may not hear from me again 
for several days. 

Then to his aid he gives the swift command : 
" Go, bid McPherson move his troops to-night, 
That Raymond he to-morrow enter. Fight 
We must before our rations fail, nor must 
Our rations fail till we have gained the day. 

90 



Say Sherman shall support his force, and close 
McClernand follow." Note we now the foe 
That in the shock of battle soon shall meet 
This host and hurl it back upon its path, 
If less its courage or its strength, And first 
We seek Commander Pemberton, who lists 
While now an officer thus rambling speaks: 
" With rapid march moved first the enemy, 
But slow his movement now, and any child 
Could read his purpose. Since his former feint 
Aimed straight at Vicksburg after his first fight,. 
His slow march centres on the Big Black bridge 
And Edward's Station. Vantage great had he 
With greater army, striking where he pleased 
While we but guessed his purpose, holding force 
It may be right, it may be wrong, to meet assault. 
But not so great in truth with plan revealed 
As now it is. 

And yet if all unguessed 

91 



That plan, with fifty thousand men at call,* 
And Gregg to fall upon the foeman's rear 
And flank, when he assails us, little fear 
Remains. Meanwhile the troops we have are held 
In good position." Here his words were stayed, 
For came an orderly with message thus: 
" Some stragglers here from Raymond say that Gregg 
Was beaten yesterday and followed close 
Toward Jackson." Ere a fitting answer came, 
A messenger with breathless haste pressed near. 
With this dispatch from Johnston: 

Jackson, Miss., May 13, 1863. 
I have lately arrived and learn that Major- General Sher- 
man is between us with four divisions at Clinton. It is 
important to re-establish communication that you may be 
reinforced. If practicable come up in his rear at once. To 
beat such a detachment would be of immense value. All 



*Badeau seems to prove beyond question that the available force 
used by Grant in the campaign proper, around Vicksburg, numbered 
3^,000 men. He also shows that the rebel force available must have 
been near 60,000. 

Q2 



the troops you can quickly assemble should be brought. 
Time is all important. 

The need the General saw yet hesitant, 

A council called, and to his leaders said: 

" This order, shall it be obeyed ? ' T is one 

I think most hazardous." Straight they replied: 

" A peril great we know in marching thus, 

But heed the order, yes." But he: "My right 

I use and must against the move decide, 

And wiser action choose. Grant from his base 

Is far, and long and weak his line between 

Must be. Cut this and crush the force I find 

Will stay his course the best and safer be." 

With morn in this dispatch his plan was told: 

" To morrow morn I move a heavy force 

On Dillon's, cutting off the enemy. 

Shall seek to force a battle thus and choose 

My ground to wait assault/' signed " Pemberton." 

The morn of May that marked half spent its life, 

93 



With one day more begun, brought back reply : 
u Jackson has fallen and your plan must fail. 
One way alone remains. On Clinton move 
Direct , that we may meet you there."" Then he, 
Astonished, said : " Tho' here my army lies 
Where I had wished it much, yet must I yield. 
Reverse the column ! take the Brownsville road 
And quick to Clinton ! Crush we may this force 
Far from its base and heaviest support, 
A corps at most, so Johnston thinks, and I. 
— What means that musketry ? " 

"I go to see, v 
Quick spake his aid, and went, but soon returned. 
" I met an orderly from troops "which form 
Our right. In light or heavy force the foe 
Advances ! Our skirmishers retire, and now 
Artillery I" 

" Some lively work, be sure !" 
Replied the General. "What means the move 



9+ 



I fail to see. Grant cannot have his troops 

All here in hand. The march, — stay not its course, 

But acid to my dispatch to Johnston, this: 

4 That heavy skirmish tire is heard along 

Our front.'" 

Scarce out of sio-ht the messenger 
That bore his order, when another came 
Riding in haste nor lingered with his word: 
"The enemy shows strength where Bowen leads." 
One sole recourse was left, and that he took: 
"Halt! form the troops for battle! and the march 
Defer. Already swells the sound of strife. 
Our left shall hold this wooded ridge. This road 
Bends south beneath it and the foe must come 
Exposed along yon plain, or struggle through 
Ravines enwalled like prisons to encage, 
Vine fettered, all who venture ! Plant your guns 
On this bald top : no better fort could be. 
From Champion Hill the line extend along. 
And Loring's forces hold the southern road." 

95 



PART II.— BOOK 3. 




HILE now the armies hang upon 
the versre 

o 

Of battle, yet delays the strife, turn 
back, 

And read the pages of the vanished hours, 
Bearing the record strange of new, great deeds. 



Whence came the force that suddenly appears 
To check the march of Pemberton, and thwart 
Each effort of the foe ? ' Tis but the fruit. 



Full grown and fair, whose potent germ we saw, 
Where Grant began what now hastes on to end 
Triumphant. Clearer was his eye, who took 
The chief command, but Johnston also failed 
To read the high design of Grant, and lost 
His city. Yet he sought to gather swift 
The parted armies into one. And this 
Grant saw, and swifter moved, and hasted more, 
When to McPherson straight a messenger* 
Whom long before with marks of deep disgrace, 
Disloyal in his noisy word and deed, 
Hurlburt had sent with loud drum-beat away, 
(A faithful friend concealed in guise so strange, 
And often proved in peril sharp) did come, 
Bearing the order sent by Johnston's hand, 
That bade the Vicksburg army strike the rear ' 

* This Union spy had been drummed out of Memphis months before 
— to more effectually deceive the Confederates. — See Badeau, Vol. ? 9 
Page 232. [A r o/e.] 



Of Fed'ral host. Guessed was the plan before, 
But now made sure. Grant's columns kept their march 
Compact, nor Johnston reached the place he marked 
For junction of his armies ere it fell 
Before their bold advance. And rest was slight 
For these, for tidings came that still the foe 
From Vicksburg's lines pressed near; and in the hours 
That hesitant their chief did wait, came on 
The FedVal skirmishers. And Grant, to keep 
His purpose and ensure success, did bid 
McClernand hold the foe but shun the fight 
Till came his host together, if the fight 
Leapt not its bounds. Nor yet was Sherman there, 
Tho' marching swift; and yet the force was strong 
If all engaged. But while they sought delay, 
Grown weary, Pemberton the strength before 
Did doubt, and his impatient speech broke forth: 
u Only a fire of skirmishers! Is this 
E'en now reconnoissance in force, no more? 

99 



But louder grows the musketry! Our left, 
Our centre wakes to battle fierce! They come 
Right gallantly to face our fire." And thus 
Careful and anxious as it well became 
Him unto whom so grave a work had falFn, 
He watched the battle's course. And watching thus, 
To him one hasted with the cry: " Our troops 
Fall back before th' impetuous foe! We need 
More men. Already he has gained the ridge 
And captured guns, how many I know not!" 
u Then hold the front and make the road your ditch," 
Spoke he; " its upper side commands his line!" 
With steady fire the higher slope they keep, 
Soon helped with other troops. " They drive the foe, 
And see! Again they hold the height just lost, 
The captured guns retake, hurrah!" 

Such words 
Excited lips of officers hurled forth; 
But scanning close the field he ordered thus: 



u Charge yonder battery upon our left ! 
Its whirling shot has hurt us much." 

Like men 
Both brave and true, they go. Ah, driven back! 
Then must we crush, and first of all, the force 
That slow retreats, if we would hope to win. 
To crush the foeman's left ensures the day." 
"More men!" breaks sharp the cry from aid be- 

grimmed, 
Blood stained. " We seemed to gain the ground 

but now 
With reinforcements come the enemy. 
The guns are lost once more ?" " What troops are 

left," 
The chief replies, "are ordered there. They hold, 
Aye, drive the foe! But Loring fails to come. 
His force I ordered here." 

" Our left and rear," 
Shouts a new voice, as foam-white steed brings near 



IOI 



An orderly, " the foe has gained. But now, 

Across the far ravines and yonder field, 

He charged upon us as we sought to plant 

Our batt'ry in the sunken road which bends 

Toward Edward's station west. The guns he got. 17 

" And cuts us from retreat ! This must not be I" 

And Pemberton, the peril new to meet, 

Turns, when a second messenger thus speaks: 

"The foe retires! I have but left the place." 

Disaster still, and only less, awaits 

His army brave; this Pemberton perceives. 

u Lose, lose no time!" the stern command, "retreat 

We must or effort vain to save our force. 

Grant with his army fights united all. 

And whence and how they came it boots not now. 

Yonder afresh his columns form to charge. 

Quick! back to Vicksburg! if the place we keep." 

And as disordered fly his troops along, 

List to the Captain's word who leads the host 

I02 



Victorious. "On! haste the ibemarfs flight! 
But what new line is this ? McClernancTs first ? 
Pursue the foe at once. Ere this these troops, 
And others with them, should have swept away 
With easy charge the right of Pemberton, 
And closed upon his rear, to meet and join 
The force of Logan who had gained his left, 
And held, as now I see, the only road 
By which he could retreat. I called him back 
To save elsewhere the day, as seemed the need. 
Let these so long engaged, fall out, and leave 
To fresher troops the vigorous pursuit. 17 
And as they passed, a powder-blackened man, 
Shouted in language loud a question plain, 
u Go on and take your part! we've had it hot. 
Where have you been all day ?" 

And these replied: 
u O, yonder in division formed where field 
Gave easy room, and listening to the roar 
Of battle." Yet was one as other brave. 

103 




"Before the front 
Of Logan, mine they spring." 



PART II.— BOOK 4. 



& A 




AST seen the battle's close and known 

the march 
Of swift pursuer ? Then the field 
IT 'IT behold ! 

The road is cleared of weary troops who bore 
The brunt of battle crowned with victory ; 
And double quick the fresh reserves press on ! 
Lo, yonder seen and now concealed, and seen 
Still farther on, a moment only, flies 
The beaten force. Anon the farewell shot 



105 



Comes hissing back defiance, while we pass 
The captured batteries that point to foes 
They harm no more. Behold these silent guns ! 
They stand well hidden in the sunken road 
Of height to point with ease above the side 
Across yon field of early growing wheat 
Whose welcome verdure rests the tired eye. 
What means the golden haze that purple turns 
Where slanting sunbeams kiss the green and blue ? 
Ah! dead are they, brave men! from force which 

swept 
In charge resistless o'er yon open space 
In face of deadly fire, and took these guns, 
And drove the line that here did lie concealed 
And dead the steeds which drew the guns to light, 
Save one, this leader, in whose eyes the tears, 
If e'er his kind may weep, seem starting now. 
His mate lies dead in harness at his side, 
And four, his fellows, slain, lie close behind ; 

106 



Survivor sole in sorrow's solitude ! 

Here lie the gray and blue, and blue and gray, 

The swift step hindering. And heeding ears 

Let not that soldier have whom duty calls 

Still onward, for the groans of men come low, 

With awful moan of agony; come loud 

With sting of pain that yet may lesser be. 

And cries for help, for water, if indeed 

No greater boon were craved, where thirst so dire 

Was but the token of a direr need. 

Halt not, but fly with swifter step along! 

Perchance on yonder height our column may 

A barrier stand between the city strong 

And its defenders flying now swift before. 

These trees that dwarfed in growing, and whose limbs 

Love earth far better than the sky, where twig 

With twig and branch with branch conspire to bar 

Our labored way, this densest underbrush 

Burst through! Quick! form your line e'en here, and 



crowd 

107 



Resistance clown in close and true array, 
For at its farther edge you '11 find the foe. 
Gone ? Aye, and flying yonder speeds the last. 
By column now advance o'er this high fence, 
And spring with easy step along this field 
Of corn! In column of division move 
With solid front, careful and slow, and now 
Halt, and unfold this troop to single line. 
Right wheel and speed, O swinging left; for ere 
The movement ends the battle line sweeps on ! 
Right flank and forward! Plunge with haste to hnd 
This wide pool's depth, whose stagnant flood breathes 

death, 
And sullen bars our onward way, nor seek 
Plank or the fallen tree to save the plunge. 
That crack of rifle and these hissing balls 
Urge to the swifter way. This ditch so deep, 
Cut wide by sudden dash of water wild, 
Down to its bottom sliding, rolling go, 

ioS 



And quick its steep high bank ascend. Change front 

Upon the right! O'er yon high barrier haste 

(Virginia fences build they here) and stand 

In line of battle, now amid the green 

Of swaying oatfield, hiding half the man, 

And forming picture fairest war that day 

Had giv'n. A left flank march again leads o'er 

The deep cut railroad whose straight line invites 

Our eager steps to where the city lies ! 

Not yet! the height beyond, with fence to crown 

What else were difficult, be this the path. 

On, on ! nor let your foot a moment fail, 

From flying step and bounding run, nor let 

Your hand a moment stop to catch whate'er 

The foe has but thrown from him in his flight, 

Nor lift the wounded enemy aside, 

Nor press the welcome draught of water cool 

To parched lips whose call is pleading hard; 

Nor fold in love the hands of fallen friend, 

109 



On, on ! to turn the flight to rout complete, 
On, on ! to work disaster limitless 
If this great work may be. 

Beware ! One falFn 
Adown this gulf ! that yawns its length along 
Half hidden at our feet; beware, beware ! 
The field is furrowed as by giant's plow 
And he who falls ma}' die. The twilight dim 
Turned rebel, favors now the foe. Lo, gleams 
The cannon's sharp discharge athwart the gloom 
And here a battery sends out its voice 
Where blooms the garden fair of stately home. 
Behold the guardian poplar falls, cut clean 
Midway, by solid iron ball, and laughs 
The cannoneer at shot so purposeless. 
And would'st thou courage see, and hate, behold 
Yon maiden seated quietly, with smile 
Of scorn for us her foes, and tear of grief 
For those her friends. 



no 



But ev'ning darkjns; halts 
The column, for the foe escapes the sight. 
And lo! along the far extended lines 
Already gleam the light of kindled fires. 
Rest now the weary victors in their place, 
While still exploding shells disturb the night, 
Where burning cars the foe could not remove, 
Hold heavy freight he would at least destroy. 
Upon the front the gen'ral sleeps, if sleep 
He can where lie with moaning sad and oft 
The wounded whom the enemy has left. 
And Johnston, where is he ? 
§ In quiet camp 

To rest the night as he the day has passed: 
To wait for Pemberton's advance and thus 
With force united fight with hope to win. 
And Hist'ry shows him waiting evermore.* 

*"On the 16th, while this furious battle was being fought, Johnston 
who had marched ten miles and a half the day before, rested his 
troops and lost a day." — Badeatt, in loco. 

in 



For with swift march and battle sharp has Grant 
Prevented junction, winning in each fray, 
And beating each, and one by one, the force 
The startled enemy did haste to send. 
And sleep comes softly to the weary forms, 
And leaves them like the sleeping slain of day. 
And night conceals the woes of wounded men, 
And all seems silent with the calm of peace. 



112 



PART II.— BOOK 5. 




HE dawn is faint and hesitant, as if . 
Unwilling to behold the wee night hides; 
But day must yet begin, and with it 
tasks 

Hard, burdensome, must have beginning too. 
Tho' scant his rest from toils of yesterday, 
The fed'ral chief thus speaks his early care: 
"Comrade this order read. It came last nisrht. 



"Washington, D.C., ii a.m., May 11, 1863. 
If possible the forces of yourself and Banks should be 



8 



"3 



united between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, so as to attack 
these places separately with the combined forces. — Halleck. 

"And shall we go ? he asked; and Grant replied; 
"At once! Bid Blair move rapidly and join 
His corps where Sherman on the right has gone 
To strike the foe at Bridgeport, on the flank. 
The pontoon train goes with him. It may be 
Against Haines' Bluff his march will turn, for base 
Or soon or late we need again. Meanwhile, 
On road direct we'll press the enemy, 
And hold him in his place, or if he move 
On Sherman, hang upon his flank and rear. 
The bridge, it must be saved." And while he spake, 
Beyond the bridge thus Pemberton 
His purpose to his officers made known: 
" Compelled on yesterday to yield with loss, 
And waiting Loring's column here, we'll hold 
The bridge and yonder line to-day. The works 
So strong I dread no front attack, but fear 

114 



At Baldwin's ferry movement on my flank, 
Or else at Bridgeport, flank upon my left, 
Already comes the sound of skirmish lire." 

But pause we now until the close of day 
Thus well begun, and hear our poet tell 
What deeds it wrought. And first this verse 
we read : 

SABBATH BELLS. 



Ringing their music away and afar 
On the wings of the radiant morn, 
Breathing of God and his love for men, • 
Of a Christ for the whole world born, 
O bells of the morning! O sweet Sabbath bells! 

Thy music forever be heard! 
Of the song of the seraphs that rises and swells 
In its rapturous rhythm o'er the Paradise dells, 
The echo ye bring us, O sweet Sabbath bells, 
And the heart's holy music is stirred. 



"S 



Ye speak of devotion, ye whisper of cheer, 
With your message the tempest is calm, 
And the heart that would sink'neath its woe and its fear, 
With the Healer ye praise finds a balm, 
i I bells of the morning! O sweet Sabbath bells! 

Thy music forever be heard! 
Of the song of the seraphs that rises ana swells 
In rapturous rhythm o'er the Paradise dells, 
The echo ye bring us, O sweet Sabbath bells, 
And the heart's holy music is stirred. 

O clangor of cannon! O dissonance deep! 

And battle's alarm harsh and hoarse! 

While crashing and tearing the shot demons sweep, 

And the rifle bail hisses its course; 
Cries of the wounded and moans of the dying, 
— Here dead and dead there, O Dea'th! 
With the laughter of Hell thy laughter is vieing, 
In ill to outdo, each the other is trying; 
Ye mock at the dead, and ye sport with the dying, 
And spend thus the Sabbath's soft breath! 

O clangor of cannon! O chime of the bells I 
Is the morning of wonder afar, 

116 



When the clangor shall melt in the chime as it swells, 
Unscared by the larum of war? 
Ring, bells of the morning, ye sweet Sabbath bells, 

Ring ever your music along, 
'Till the song of the seraphs that rises and swells 
In rapturous rhythm o'er the Paradise dells, 
And sweeter than music of sweet Sabbath bells, 
Greets earth with its rapturous song. 

Dear Friends: These words found life as home- 
ward turned 
My eager thoughts. 'Tis Sabbath eve, and yet 
I knew it not, till came the hour of calm 
Amid the busy day. Since early morn 
Ere light had burst its eastern prison door, 
On skirmish line or battle front weVe been. 
The rest of night was brief that fell upon 
The beaten foe and swift pursuing troops. 
With growing day, and while perchance at home 
''Mid thoughts of peace akin to all the calm 
Of sky that smiled in cloudless beauty there, 

117 



Of air that echoed songs ot gladsome birds, 

Sweet with the fragrant breath of op'ning flow'rs, 

You passed to worship God in prayer and praise, 

Our column pushed upon the enemy. 

Strong was their line, begirt by winding stream, 

Treach'rous in depth and bed; itself held close 

Within the lance points, thrust by prostrate trees, 

An abatis by nature strong, by man 

Increased, to hold afar and long his foe. 

Long time artillery and musket waged 

A noisy battle, till upon our right 

And close beneath the river's bank, through copse 

Most dense, a column forced its way and found 

A path left open, narrow tho' it was, 

Yet wide enough to give the soldiers room 

To pierce the foeman's left. No time had he 

In this, his sharp surprise, to mass his men, 

Or meet what then his need was, charge along 

The front, from right to left. The day was won 

nS 



With pris'ners taken. Some we captured while 
They sought the bridge that burned beneath the 

flames 
Which troops in safety on the western shore, 
Had kindled in their wild alarm. And some 
Surrendered in the rifle pits,- with flags 
By ready cotton bale supplied, upheld 
On bayonet or rammer. 

Write I this, 
While sheltered from the slowly sinking sun, 
By friendly oak with Spanish moss grown gray. 
An hour ago your great, glad letters came, 
And gave the dates, forgot or noticed not 
Before, that told the tale of battle waged 
On this, God's day of rest. Yet all the strife 
That marred the morn scarce matched the din of eve 
When rose the shout, ' A mail ! Ho, news from 

home ! ' 
But now the calm earth seems to sleep beneath 

119 



The lullaby of eve, whose shadows haste 

To meet the laggard legions of the night. 

Softly the zephyr fans the cheek ! The day 

That woke with thunder peal and shook its locks 

Before the battle blast, will close its eyes 

And softly die as ever died a da} 7 

In Paradise. May ev'ry day of storm 

So surely end in peace and be at eve 

What yet 'twere better all its hours had been. 

But while the daylight stays and waits the line, 

Beside this river go and note the busy toil 

Which after conflict short and sharp, awaits 

The victors. O'er the stream the troops must 

haste 
And lo, along yon plain are brought the bales 
Compact and huge, of cotton, yet so light 
The waves but take and toss and hold above 
The changeful surface like a pleasing toy. 
On these, securely joined and smoothly framed 



The level planks from friendly houses lie. 
Meanwhile, the lofty trestle falls and floats 
A bridge, with skill devised, whose top the gin 
Despoiled, makes smooth a passage way and safe. 
And see yon forest trees which grow along 
The river's bank, are felled from either side 
And top to top made fast, lie all the stream 
Across, upholding, too, its solid floor, 
Secured with ease from builded barn or home. 
There file McClernand's vet'rans now; here pass 
With steady, sweeping tread McPherson's troops, 
While on the right the gallant Sherman hastes, 
And right and left the forces face the foe." 



121 



«aSM 




''•''Jr wt * ; ' - : ? ' - " ^-^ss^ 



"Thus mused the General! 
Then to his triutv aid he irave command: 
'Make out the crder for assault.'" 



PART II.— BOOK 6. 




AST fell the shadows of the ofath'rin 



g 



gloom, 



But still across the stream and through 
the night, 

Long, long was heard the heavy muffled sound 
Like low, far thunder deep, continuous, 
That marked the ready column's onward march, 
Where lay the fated city sought so long. 
And while amid the gloom they haste, yet find 
Their progress often barred in path unknown, 



123 



"By nature's forces, not the foe, who speed 
With reckless step, forgetful of their line, 
Within the walls of Vicksburg, Pemberton 
Order thus seeks to bring from chaos mad. 
" Haste, haste, and form these stragglers into line! 
Scarce one command remains intact. The road 
From Big Black bridge is thronged with men. What 

guns 
Are these ?." But if reply they made who passed, 
Their voice was lost in sound tumultuous, 
That rolled confusion through the shoreless gloom, 
But dimly seen three lonely cannon passed, 
Survivors swift from out that awful chase « 
Begun a score of days before, and now 
Near ended, winning too the race well run. 
Well might the voice that sought their names to tell 
'Grow faint and fail from grief that still held dear 
The loved and lost — the three-score guns and more 
That silent lay forever, or had giv'n 

124 



Their iron hearts to foes who sought and won. 
With suit impetuous. 

But thought of loss 
Was swallowed up in fear that froze their hearts 
And left them seeking each his safety where 
Slight safety seemed. And yet there passed along 
With soldiers all disheartened, citizens, 
Who from the country hastened to the town, 
Fearing the foe behind, and fearing too 
The fate before; great pendulums of dread 
That found no resting place. And thus the day r 
The bright, fair Sabbath, shining down from God r 
That brought no peace at morn to restless hearts,. 
Fled at the last to 'scape the scene that grew 
More mad and wild as slowly wheeled its hours.. 
And still among the crowd that thronged the gates 
Stayed Pemberton to mend the ill what way 
He could, nor yet refrained his speech. " Why broke 
The line to-day I know not, but the rout 

125 



Was all the foe could wish and soon became 

A thing of sauve qui petit. Pass through the town 

And reassure these citizens. A care 

They give us far be} 7 ond their worth. 1 ' His words 

This cry did stop, the voice of citizen 

Rushing with heedless speed alarmed along: 

a They come! Grant's troops are at the outer line!" 

And on the shout went, till a woman's scream 

Proclaimed afar that Grant had got within. 

"And such the foolish fear! Not o'er the stream 

At either ferry early, he must now 

First bridge the Big Black river. Then may he 

Press onward to the town, nor then these works 

Reach ere to-morrow morn. Else fear might have 

Some place. For here confused, the frightened crowd, 

Men wild, and women worse, excited talk. 

But post the fresher troops upon the line 

And rally all the fugitives at once ! 



12*6 



To-morrow shall again an army see." [rest 

And while they toiled the whole night through, brief 
The Fed'ral army, marching late, did take. 
But when the Sabbath night was dead, and morn 
Came laughing to the funeral, his torch 
Uplit the way and on the columns pushed. 
And first the ready Sherman struck the bluffs 
Against whose base long months before had dashed 
His host of heroes like the surging sea; 
And on the height that then defiant loomed, 
And hurled its wrath in solid blaze of lire, 
To be endured, not conquered, stood this chief. 
Below him in their silent sleep did lie 
The brave, true men who sought in vain the crest 
That now his proud foot trod. Not theirs to win, 
But 'die; their comrades not to die but win; 
And yet to die was most. While thus he stood, 
Unchecked the strong emotions swept their tide 
Of triumph o'er his soul. Supremer still 

127 



The moment than he guessed, whose eyes saw not r 

And yet did see from that tall cliff, afar, 

The deep Atlantic's restless ebb and flow. 

Nor soon did speech the solemn silence break, 

Tender with memories and yet sublime, 

With grandest deeds accomplished, but at last, 

The lofty, gen'rous soul within him stirred, 

Sherman to Grant who by his side had stood 

Calm as the height that held them, turned and spake: 

"Until this moment came, I never thought 

Your expedition a success ! The end 

I ne'er could clearly see till now. But this, 

This is success, this a campaign, if ne'er 

We take the town."* 

And calm and silent still 
He heard whose plan, but formed and all untried r 
Had been yet one with plan accomplished full, 
And answered not, but passed to other lines. 

*See Badeau, Vol. i, p. 2S1. 



And next McClernand, farther sent yet reached 
The foe upon the left. Midway McPherson led, 
And when the morn to day full grown, passed 01 
To brief and dark old age and death, and lay 
Hid gloomily in night's thick pall a corpse, 
The city strong a living wall enclosed. 



I2 9 








Where lowland snugly lay within 

The elbow of the stream.— Book T i J :irt 3. 

PART III.— THI RIVER CITY. 
L 

HAT time the first men lived and 
wrought their tasks, 
Mound builders old and silent, or the , 

2^w race 

Before their day, whose history is dead, 

The mighty river north to south, unnamed 

Or named by word lost from the speech of men. 

Swept on. Mayhap its current touched the sea 

Halfway its present course ; but when at last 




131 



The sunken continent its shoulder thrust 
Above th' unwilling waves, lo, southward rose- 
High o'er the level plain a mighty shore 
That barred its flow and marked its destiny, 
To sweep its current central through a land 
Held by one nation, though the future kept 
The germ as yet ungrown. Here, here should come 
The strangers from the shores that bend to meet 
The kiss of ocean east and west, to look 
Each in the other's face and see the face 
Of brother, here to share one fate for aye I 
Its voice, through ages long forgot, had sung 
"I know the North, I know the South, and both 
Are mine forever. All the way I bear 
The waters chilled beneath the winter's breath,, 
To sunny fields with summer's kisses warm. 
The North is mine, for there my life begins, 
The South is mine for there my life doth end. 
One land I know, and if from West and East 

132 



I call my children to my side, I bind 
With surer chain the North and South." 

O voice! 
Speak on through all the years that man shall krow. 
Then lofty was the shore, but lo, its breadth 
Once gained, was smooth and lay the stream along 
Plateau of nature fair in early da}'s. 
But storm and gathered flood through years un- 
known, 
Had marred its level face and dug deep paths 
Or here or there, till rivulets had grown 
To larger tide, and pressed in haste along, 
Beneath the frown of wooded hillsides steep 
To tell their triumph to the river great. 
And now the shore a name possessed and homes 
Uprose, that kinship claimed with homes that marked 
O'er all the land the nation one and new. 
And now the shore a hostile camp became, 
And vexed the one great stream alway with thought, 

*33 



To bid it flow through nations twain, and boast 

No more of one life spent amid one land. 

O Vicksburg! strong and fair upon your hills, 

And walled about with rugged, bristling front, 

Nature's bluff parapets, repelling touch 

With trenches deep, hid oft by trailing vine, 

And doubly strong and doubly dangerous, 

With man's own skill, proud though in conscious 

strength, 
To-day you smile, low hangs your doom and near! 
Unheeded speaks the river, and it seeks 
Ally, and holds you in its circling arm 
Till other hands shall chain your spirit wild, 
And give again one river to one land. 
See now along the hills that face your front 
Of massive fort and sinuous rifle trench, 
The nation's army lifts its banners high ! 
Abruptly plunge the deep ravines along, 
Straight from their top to base in tortuous course, 

134 



Crowding the slender rivulet below, 

Yet now discovered to their lowest depths 

By shrieking shell and whistling canister. 

Near and yet nearer draws th' encircling host, 

And deep- voiced cannon speaks and sharper note 

Of rifle, as the single skirmisher 

Steals through the waving grass and lurks behind 

The friendly nook dug by the rushing wave, 

Or sends the unexpected ball from place 

Hid by the breastwork of the fallen tree. 

Now these are met by like array, and swift 

The minie speeds and strikes th 1 unwary foe, 

From sheltVing boughs of spreading oak sent forth, 

And not unnoticed, for the watchful eye 

Has seen the thread of smoke betraying foe, 

And pierced by answ'ring shot, as falls the game, 

So falls the rifleman to earth. And thus, 

With skill and ' courage matched, or with device 

Deceiving or well known, each striving seeks 

135 



Advantage. Nor alone the skirmish front 

Has faced the danger. Line on line, with step 

Now swift, where clear the space, now slow, as dense 

And wisely difficult, shaped well by foe, 

The fallen trees, compact, a bristling wall 

Oppose, the battle columns come ! 

O'er abatis 
That checks their march, and holds with cruel hand 
Their hearts, a throbbing target for the foe; 
O'er yawning chasm with brambles dense concealed, 
Low drooping, winding in and out, or vine 
With leaiy verdure grown, to yield in haste 
To eager step, and hurl sometimes to death 
The falling soldier, nature's snare; o'er all 
And nearer cordons strong of armed men, 
Approach the hills whose rugged front protects 
Brief space the fated city. Hither come ! 
While halted here this battle line awaits 
The march of column on the right. This house 



Is large, and where the soldiers stand arrayed 

A garden lies, and fair, with early plants 

Whose freshness wins the praise of men well taught 

In work like this. But lo! a curious soul 

Has thought the soil full loose e'en to the depth 

A bayonet at least may search. Full wise, 

Taught by the lessons of the passing days, 

He straight begins t' upheave the surface smooth 

And not in vain. Supplies in trenches long, 

Or box, or barrel round stand soon in view, 

Of ware so delicate it ill befits 

The soldier's hand, of food substantial, meet 

For any soldier's taste; all this is seen, 

— Scant food to nourish growth of garden roots — 

And only seen. The cry of "forward" sends 

Still on the column to its work. Approach 

And note with me this regimental line, 

Nor doubt the easy record from the dawn. 

McClernand's vet'rans these, and while they swept 

137 



With steady tread, upon the battle bent, 

To do and dare what fits the soldier true,, 

No less obey in lighter task, the few 

To forage ordered. Lo! Achilles' brawn 

Avails not, fed on air; and now a score 

Ol days have sought their journey west 

Through vales and groves of fragrant spring, and 

pressed 
With dainty robes of May the flowers among, 
Yet found their garments crimsoned in the dews 
Of battle — silent now amid their dead, — 
Since from the friendly shore the vetVans came, 
Since friendly hand the ready food supplied.* 
Meanwhile, with but a single day between,. 
When once the guarded train its scant supply 
The army brought, the foeman's land did yield 

* Grant started with an average of two days' rations in haversacks. 
Only five days' rations had been issued in twenty days. — See Badeau,. 
Vol. /, fage 284. 

13S 



The flesh of ox, or fowl, whose flight was vainy 

Or treasured grain, whose mixed meal, unsalt, 

Spread on the slanting board before the fire, 

Gave loaf of sweetness marvelous.. Nor yet 

Did every day the full supply provide. 

And thus, now fed upon sufficient fare, 

Now knowing hunger's pangs, amid the march 

Of rain and mire, and where the deep dust sent 

Its clouds along beneath a blazing sun, 

To sleep at night brief hour where battle raged 

Or watch the stars from lonely picket post. 

Full fed or hungry 'twas but one to these 

Who fought the nation's battle, fought and won.. 

Upon the lighter task, familiar grown, 

The men depart and soon have found supply, 

And roils of wheaten meal prepare, to vie 

In size, if eise they fail, with those the hand 

Of skillful housewife shapes; while death comes swift 

To lordly leader and his loyal flock, 

139- 



'The loud-voiced gobbler gasping out his breath, 
The first to suffer for his country's good, 
And add his humble strength our cause to win! 
Up with these baskets burdened for the nonce 
With royal feast, and haste the front to gain! 
Heed not these scattering balls, and pause not here 
Upon the torn and bleeding edge of war's array, 
Whose crimson fringes fright the timid soul; 
But speed with wise regard to safety still, 
And let these heroes break the long day's fast. 
And here they stand in order firm, behind 
The crown of this long, slanting ridge, to move 
This moment or the next, or next, or wait 
The ev'ning shadows as the fight may need. 
" Ho, dinner come at last ! " is now the shout 
Whose joyous cry salutes the ear, nor flag 
E'er rallied men with swifter steps than this. 
"Attention!" is the stern demand; "Fall in!" 
And Tantalus ne'er felt a keener pang, 

140 



As swift the water fled or swayed the fruit 
Beyond his outstretched hand, than these, whose 

grasp 
Almost possessed, and failed of food so near. 
On, on, to climb the height! On, on, amid 
This volleyed grape, that bounds in reckless leaps 
Along the solid earth, sent from the gun 
Yon yellow fort protects. Now, seek this shade 
Of meeting boughs o'er trickling stream, enwalled 
By kindly slopes, and forward haste, concealed 
A moment, soon again to come to view. 
"Close up!" and on this hillside halt, and lie 
With face upon its soft greensward. Meanwhile 
Above, where best avails, the skirmishers 
Of all the army's far extending front 
Engage with added force, the foeman now 
Forced to his works and held within. Note here 
How steadily the red stream flows along 
This vale, so late the home of murmVing brook. 



*v 



On stretchers some, and some by comrade^ hand 
Upborne, the surgeons seek. And some no more 
The help of any earthly skill will need. 
The top of this green height, such fountains start, 
While here and there the hissing ball has found 
The waiting soldier on the slope below, 
Whose red blood swells the current on its way. 
And what a demon's shriek is heard, as speed 
A score of shells but just above the earth 
To bound and burst upon the mating slope 
Behind! u Fix bayonets!" the order sharp, 
And rings the steel, and forms the line to charge! 
'Twas task assigned to earlier da)', delayed 
Because of distance far to march, delayed 
Because of stubborn fight of foe, and now 
Delayed upon this front, that lines beyond 
May nearer come, — and still the stubborn fight 
<joes on. Long minutes these while sinks the sun 
With lustre dimmed, upon his curtained couch 

143 



Of gorgeous clouds, and no voice shouts ''advance!' 1 

The rim of yonder hill horizon makes, 

To close the view of conflict raging far, 

That e'er repeats itself from slope to slope, 

And rolls its terrors near to other lines. 

But one mind guides and plans no other task 

For these to day than hold their close advance, 

And breast the storm whose answ'ring tempest must 

By them be chained. The night comes on. The glow 

Of feeble fires along the vale, uplights 

The shadows, else almost unseen, and here 

A hungry soldier dares approach and place 

His vet'rari tin cup o'er the tiny flame. 

Soon bubbles sport and play, the moment wise 

To add the grains the bayonet has crushed 

Of coffee, treasured long for hour like this. 

And lo ! now floats its fragrant breath along 

And many a soldier's heart with envy burns. 

In triumph large the soldier lifts his cup 



With motion swift, for rifle balls begin 

To seek the tire, but now he rests amid 

The farther shadows where the fallen tree 

A friendly seat provides. A comrade tries 

The plan, but scarce the cup has placed, when sharp 

Upon its armor strikes the humming ball, 

And loud jests greet the awful loss of war. 

None merrier than he who won success 

Where failed his comrade, but his words midway 

Are stopped forever by the unseen stroke 

Of leaden messenger, and falls he there, 

The fair brow crushed, the spirit gone for aye! 

Quenched now the fire that wrongly burned at all, 

And sleep is sought if come it may to forms 

That prostrate lie, where lie they must, upon 

The earth with naught but sky above, amid 

The chilling touch of southern night and dew. 

Tho' supperless when found the weary march 

Its close at midnight's hour on yesterday, 

144 



And with the fast unbroken still, with hand 

Upon the rifle clasped; it yet is theirs 

To sleep, and heed not anxious cares of day. 

Yet wait and watch with me the morn's approach 

And note the fortunes still of this array. 

Now faint and fainter shine the stars, and now 

Their silent march has almost closed, and camp 

Called yonder in the far dark fields of space 

Where fails as yet the sun's relentless chase. 

Or here or there a lonely star remains 

To picket the retreating host, and feint 

Possession of a field already lost. 

Lo, in the east, in scarlet uniform, 

The skirmishers of day approach with step 

So soft, .no ear has heard their tread, and now 

Surprised, the earth lies captive in the arms 

Of dawn. Yet ere the sun arise to know 

And claim his vast dominions, ever won 

As ever lost in order sure and true, 

10 145 



The careiul whisper wakes the armed camp, 
And lo, once more the loaded baskets wait, 
And fast, long kept, is broken with a will. 
What boots it that the foeman's guns command 
This valley small, if foemen sleep so well? 
Now, now is heard the cry, advance, advance ! 
And o'er the ridge exposed the soldiers haste, 
While wakes the drowsy foe at last to hurl 
Wrath on escaping ranks that feel light harm. 

146 



PART III.— BOOK 2. 




HE city strong by one supreme assault 
Would fall, if I may trust the outlook fair. 
From these commanding heights, hard 
won from foe, 
A resolute and vigorous charge by all 
Must break his stubborn lines. 

Nor wise to wait 
While Johnston gathers force, with haste supplied, 
To come upon my rear. Between the two, 

HI 



The garrison within, the hosts without, 

Defeat might follow; but with Vicksburg stormed, 

'Twere easy to turn and crush the rest, 

And ask no aid to join us in our task. 

And restless lies my army here. To them, 

Untaught defeat, yon line is but a taunt, 

And nerved is every arm to sweep the foe 

From this, the prize long sought. Already come 

Impatient murmurings from courage held 

In leash. Through Vicksburg, say they roundly bold, 

Their march can be till river flood shall stay 

Their steps. Succeed we may not, yet the town 

Seems in our grasp, and grasp it too, we shall, 

Or trying, fail. Their force in numbers, what ? 

Above ten . thousand strong ! But twice that ? No ! 

Midway the count, if judge I not amiss, 

Two men outside, to one within, with hearts 

Victorious these, and beaten those, and faint, 

We '11 gain the day." Thus mused the General: 

148 



Then to his trusty aid he gave command: 

"Make out the order for assault! Along- 

The whole line charge to-morrow morn, and see 

That each corps closely scan the ground o'er which 

Their troops must move; and send artillery 

— What guns and most that may be used with skill — 

To place. In columns charge with front as wide 

As these ravines allow. With bay'nets fixed, 

In light array and fire reserved till stormed 

The outer works, push on the troops." And then 

To Porter of the fleet dispatches thus: 

"At ten to-morrow I assault the lines 

And urgently request your aid. Your fleet 

Below the city send and shell the works 

That hour ! And if the night were passed, with shells 

Hurled from your mortar boats upon the town 

Great would the vantage be." So passed the day 

That added one unto the score of days 

May gave of beauty and of battle dark. 

149 



Came night, but not with rest. Through all the hours 
Whose veiled eyes looked dimly down on life, 
The steady beat of awful iron hail 
Sounded, its great globes dropping horrible 
Upon the city. These the river sent, 
Holding with care the thick-lipped mortars six, 
Cradled in boats kept gently near that shore 
Adverse, where lowland snugly lay within 
The elbow of the stream. On its broad breast 
All night it nursed the gunboats darkly grim, 
And bade them hurl their hatred on the town. 
On land, with early morn, the storm awoke, 
And drove its hurricane of steel and flame, 
On Vicksburg. Where yon lofty hill its crown 
Uplifts, before McPherson's line stands Grant, 
That all the coming conflict he may view. 
The always ready Sherman holds the fight. 
Midway between, McPherson, trusty, waits. 
Far on the left, impetuous, behold 

150 



McClernand with his chiefs. Of these, ' ] 

Hovey the far flank holds among the aeen; 
Beyond the sight the brave McArthur keeps 
Space to the river from his corps removed. 
Next Hovey, Austerhaus, whose English speech 
Is broken; not his deeds, for none more brave 

than he, 
Divisions main were these, and that which lay 
Beside them on the right, Carr led; of speech 
Not loud, but speaking more in act. And next 
Came Smith, the fiery, like the molten stream 
Down Etna's side, nor careful in smooth words. 
And Quimby, of McPherson's corps, next lay; 
And swarthy Logan bold, held farther line, 
And Ransom joined him, touching Sherman's left, 
With Blair and Tuttle brave and true, as Steele 
Who failed not, swinging round to river far 
North and above the city. And to tell 
Who bravest were of these, or those unnamed, 

151 



Of rank the less to private, hard the task, 
And task refused. 

The while the Gen'ral stood 
Waiting upon the height, the deep loud stroke 
Ol signal cannon bore the word to charge. 
A moment's calm had fallen as the time 
Exact each leader kept, where cannon's lip 
Hushed its hoarse speech of wrath, lest friends should 

feel 
With foe, its anger. 

Silence! strange and deep, 
As when the sultry breath of summer sinks 
Nor sways the fragile branch, nor aspen leaf, 
And nature faints, before the sudden burst 
Of the dread hurricane. And as the swoon 
Of nature leaps to mad delirium, 
And earth and air and sky a swirling roar 
Become, filled with sharp thunders, making yet 
One greater sound; so conflict woke its wrath, 



And foeman's thundVous cannon roai 
Swelled, and the rifle, less, yet many voiced, 
Helped the increasing hurricane where strife 
Made sport of life and tossed it to and fro. 
The storm's deep voice he heard who scanM the field, 
And now amid the battle smoke descries 
Flag on the left, flag on the right afar, 
Flags many, on that line that belts the foe 
A score of miles or near. Lo! right and left, 
Like gleams of splendor, lightnings on that cloud 
Of strife, the banners shine above the slopes; 
And now the exterior parapet they crown, 
And now upon the guardian outwork's front 
Before McClernand wave their starry folds, 
And stop. The eye for broken lines of foe 
Vainly its vision strains, and for " the blue " 
Beyond yon winding trench doth search in vain. 
Tho' near on left and right, yet stayed the lines 
On ground hard won nor farther press their way. 



153 



The crack of rifle still breaks oft, and now 
The booming shock where cannon joins anew 
The fray, with rising clouds of battle smoke, 
All this he marks full well, but all too well 
He knows the first strong onset met and broke. 
While thus afar he stands, let us draw near 
And view this conflict where McClernand waits. 
Here first from close and hid ravine appear 
The slender column's head of that brigade 
Carr orders, Benton at its front. Some fall. 
But others crowd the height, and only seen 
By glimpses, now their flag behold ! behold ! 
'Tis up the slope, now hid, now seen, now floats 
On what a strong work seems, floats free and fair 
Upon the parapet : now disappears 
Within, with its brave bearers, seeming few ! 
Yet Hope the number swells where eye doth fail 
To overleap the intervening hills. 
And now 'tis turned another sight to meet. 

154 



Here Lawler's form obese, whose brave heart matched 
Equal his courage with his size, dicl lead 
Brigade from Carr 1 s command. Farther their way,, 
But bravely passed; and now they swept along 
Climbing the last long slope and wavered not, 
But boldly dared the crest, and boldly leaped 
The ditch, and proudly planted on the works 
Their flag. Now, other flags flap free along, 
And seem to shout success, and yet success 
In chains. While lingered thus the lines, and noise 
Of battle grew apace, this message sent 
McClernand, reaching Grant as to the right 
Where Sherman fought he turned to go. 

" Engaged 
x\m I, and hotly, with the foe. On me 
From right to left he masses. VigVous blow 
Dealt by McPherson now would favor me." 
" If weak your line advanced, increase its strength. 
Reserves from other parts where'er they be 

155 



Send." And with orders thus returned, Grant passed 
To Sherman's front. Here, too, th' unequal strife 
Had raged, and here so brave deeds shone as well 
High praise deserved, and yet deeds wrought in 

vain. 
His path led by the graves whose grassy mounds 
And marble monuments the hand of love 
Had reared to Love in other days of peace. 
Graves were his path the first, his path the last, 
Graves, where the hand would tenderly conceal 
The shattered, bloody forms, unmarked, unnamed, 
Perchance, War's monuments ! 

Straight toward the works 
Prompt with the hour, his columns sprang o'er crown, 
Of ridge inferior, and down its slope, 
Beyond the deep ravine and up the height 
Held by the enemy, amid the vines 
Tangled, luxuriant, o'er prostrate trunks, 
Trees slashed in masses, crossing each, and o'er 

150 



Stakes driven, till reached at last the bastion T s flank, 
They- passed. Battered the foeman's fort with shot 
From thirty guns poured fast and hard, else ne'er 
Thus close had come the column led by men 
Whose hand the plank and ladder held to cross 
Deep trench. What fearful storm they yet had met 
From cannon's mouth, or rifle, thousand iold 
Increased when now they reached the bastion's flank, 
Where doubly deep and safely screened, uprose 
The unharmed foe and poured their awful fire 
Point-blank against those breasts so few and bold, 
And broken was the charge of Ewing's line ! 
But swift th' assault renewed, beset the left, 
That seemed less strong, and that brigade that lay 
Next Ransom, Blair did haste to send, with troops 
From Ransom's line. But deeper than before 
Yawned three ravines more tangled still than all, 
More closely hedged with fallen trees and bound 
With Nature's cords, that like a toil-wrought net, 

157 



Tripped the swift hurrying foot. A few through all 
Did struggle on, but ere the lines were gained 
The day was lost tho 1 still the carnage raged. 
Midway its course a wounded drummer boy 
All limpingly and slow a message brought 
For cartridges; and "calibre fifty-four!" 
He shouted, turning ere he left the hill 
To tell the number o'er, fearing mistake. 
To Sherman Grant had come, and only come, 
When this new message from McClernand reached 
His hand. " Of two forts part possession ours, 
And o'er them float the stars and stripes. Hot 

still 
Our fight; a vig'rous movement should be made 
Along the line." Doubting if more he knew 
Who sent it, than himself whose eye had scanned 
Broadly the fight, the even charge beheld, 
And the defeat, where flags yet floated fair 
On sloping earthwork, still he gave command 

i*8 



McArthur's troops be used, and hastened where 

McPherson led, to make diversion there; 

Bidding the while the troops with Sherman charge, 

If no word come to stay. Nor had he reached 

McPherson, when "a third dispatch declared: 

" Have gained intrenchments of the enemy 

At several points, but now am held at bay; 

Have called McArthur. Would it not be best 

To gather here his whole or part command? 

My troops are all engaged, and none may leave 

Their front." Such words unheeded might not be, 

And troops McPherson sent: and soon the charge 

Redoubled all along the line should rage. 

Once more the message came to tell of grasp 

Secure upon the works: of purpose fixed 

To press the foe with what of help should come, 

And force the line, tho' now declared "in range 

Of rifle trench, 1 ' with other prisoner's tale 

Of u strong works in the rear." And now once more 



iw 



Did Sherman send his vet'ran columns on 
To dare death often dared before, and soon 
McPherson charged and battle storm awoke! 
And word first came from Steele afar, of Hag 
Planted on parapet, yet nothing won 
Save wounds and worse. And Tuttle fared his like, 
And here McPherson's bleeding columns reeled 
From fight, and there McClernand failed while near 
His wish, and keeping parapet and trench 
Of foe mid bursting hand grenades down hurled, 
The only troops that e'en a moment took 
And held, aught of the foeman's lines.* 

Nor these 
Long held. Captured or slain were those who got 
Within, save him who led thro' peril large 
One man, a near score of the enemy. 
Nor reached McArthur's troops assignment new 
Till day and night had gone, nor aught fulfilled 

*See Badeau, Vol. i, page 320. 

160 



Of what McClernand planned, unwise or wise. 

And Quimby late arrived, relieving Smith 

In battle line, and at the set of sun 

Engaged and met as others, deadly fire, 

Where charged in feint or real th' emboldened foe, 

While swept his reinforcements to his works, 

Assailed and brief time won by federals. 

And daylight died from grief to see what wreck 

The battle wrought with those who sought the town, 

While shadowy forms thro 7 sljadows backward stole, 

Such as yet strong life had, while darkly lay 

Forms motionless or writhing, near the trench; 

And through the night the moans of agony 

Beat discord in the sleep of weary men. 

A host three thousand strong, in wounds or death 

Lay helpless 'mid the gathering, awful gloom. 

Nor strange indeed, they failed the day to win, 

When hosts without charged equal hosts within. 



161 



PART III.— BOOK 3. 




NCE more return with me where 

soldiers wait, 
This time upon the hillside's sloping 
camp, 

Where railroad sends its level line along 
From Vicksburg forth to Jackson east and far. 
7 Tis ev'ning's hour. Thrice seven the days and 

more, 
Since failed the charge, nor day had been that saw 
A failing purpose or a fait 'ring hand. 

i6q 



Too bold the front with dawn that first looked down 
On sad repulse, to kindle hope in hearts 
Of foe. And nearer drew the nation's host, 
And stronger seemed, and bolder with the hours 
That passed, till now the line unbroken formed 
A prison strange for hostile hosts within. 
Meantime throughout the nation fame had gone 
To herald triumph won in many a fray, 
While to the charge repulsed faint praise she gave. 
But in the days thus spent came friends in haste, 
To see the citizen, the soldier loved, 
And safe, a knowledge gain of War's array. 
And so at this day's close, with curious quest 
Safe guided into camp, came one in search 
Of Sergeant Mars, his friend of former years. 
Hearty his name, who made his way where sat 
In war's undress his friend and him surprised. 
" Hurrah! you here? or, is it but your ghost?" 
" Not quite a ghost," he laughed, "but flesh used up. 

164 



That sun and dust were fearful ! Glad am I 
I'm here at last. I long have wished to see 
How fare our boys in blue. Such gallant men 
No other land has known, God bless them all! 
And how they live in war time 'tis the dream 
Of many a day to see, and so I came." 
On flowed the dialogue between them thus: 
" Right glad are we to see your face. To us 
God's country all the North doth seem, and now 
The man who brings the nearer sense of home, 
The more of him we know, most welcome is." 
"And how are all the boys, the bravest boys 
Who ever formed in line ? God bless them all! 
It does me good to think what noble men 
Have fought our battles for us, and do still." 
" Don't put it strong till you have seen us more!" 
"It cannot be too strong! They're heroes all! 
And now I've come to share the while I may 
Your hardships and your merry times withal, 

165 



For such our revolutionary sires 
Did know, and such their worthy sons must have. 
Spare me from nothing while I stay. I seek 
Experience such as only soldiers know." 
" We'll gladly introduce you all around, 
And send you home a vet'ran swiftly made. 
But to begin the drill with lightest task, 
Come, let's to bed and sleep." 

" But where 's your tent ?" 
" Lost in the barge that somewhere sunk in depths 
Of yonder river. This is fine! The hill 
We've spaded down you see, and level made, 
— A couch tit for a king! You're spared the slant 
We had the first few nights." 

" But where's the bed ?" 
" Why, man, these blankets, — don't you see ? Below 
The poncho, moisture proof; the blanket, wool 
Above. Pile in!" 

As if the task were hard, 

166 



With motion slow, at last the citizen 

Lay prone beside the soldier, sleeping sound, 

But restless seemed and turned from side to side. 

When morning came the sergeant woke and missed 

His friend! "Heigh-ho! where are you, citizen?" 

"Here!" said the friend, who weary looked indeed, 

And added: "That hard bed! I could not stand 

Longer its misery! I have not slept 

A wink. And cannonading shook the hill, 

If nothing else disturbed, so I got up. 

How on the earth you lie so like a log, 

I can not tell." 

" But then you came, I thought, 
To share our hardships all, and is it fair 
To give us thus the slip? We gallant men — " 
"Quarter! I *cry. Don't tell a soul beside 
What words I used last night." 

"All right; and now, 
T'is doubtless time I too should rise and make 

167 



My morning toilet ; but a good hour's sleep 
Were worth me now a thousand bugle blasts 
Of Roderick Dhu. That cannon's thunder loud 
T heeded not, though at the first I might. 
We only seek to rouse the foe lest he 
Sleep long, too long for health. The sound would fail 
As fails it with our men, but solid shot 
And lively flying shell succeed. At least 
The solid shot can wake, we know it well. 
For on one morn our neighbors, yonder, sent 
Their early greeting where just now you stand, 
Tho' safe till then we had esteemed ourselves. 
Yet sharply through yon cut the battery 
Found open door to leave its compliments 
For our acceptance!" 

"Where then can I go?" 
" O ! calm your fears. A second shot but whirled 
Its strength, when yonder battery above 
— Clouse keeps it — knocked the reb aloft, and since 

16S 



No trouble has it wrought, nor will again." 

"What's that 'hat sounds so like a sickly cat, 

Mewing with music long drawn out ?" 

"A ball, 

A well spent ball, and see! it sL'kes, and near! 71 

"Why, in the very place we slept! Your bed, 

Come, let me help you move it." "Not at all! 

Dig up the minie, keep it; let the bed 

Stay. Ball ne'er went just there before, nor will 

Again.'" "To me your reason fails in weight; 

But show me, somewhere, water for my face. 

I'm sore in need of something to refresh." 

" Hold out your hands, I'll pour the water on, 

Canteens are handy!" "And is this your best? 

— But listen! Is the battle on? Hear, hear! 

What musketry!" 

"'Tis but the morning's work; 

Sharpshooters busy, on each side engaged. 

Sit down and talk till breakfast. Nine or ten 

The hour our men we sent to cook our meals 

169 



Yonder, two miles away, will come. No smoke 
Nor fire near by must tell the foe our place." 
"But don't you have a lunch before that hour?" 
"Lunch! oh the fun! Two meals a day, my cit, 
And thankful, too, for that, or rather, if 
We relish it." "I would not stand it then!" 
"And how avoid ?" " Why, take the town. Up North 
We thought it surely could be done. That charge, 
Why did it fail? A column strong it seems, 
Just keep it going, ought to break the lines 
Of any foe that breathes." "Nor doubtful that! 
But if 'twere yon kept going, and the force 
Gave out before it had been going long, 
And there were none to swell its numbers? How, 
If few remained to reach o'er all between, 
The heavier force that manned the works, would 

strength 
Gigantic, feed your heart to overcome ?" 
"Then tell me how and why the onset failed? ir 



170 





On stretchers some. — Book IV, Part 3. 

PART III.— BOOK 4. 

HE battle scene no two will view alike. 

The private wants the broader scope, 
and oft 

The GenVal lacks the full experience 
The private soldier knows. Needed are both 
To round the story of the conflict out, 
And list we now the lesser history, 
As for his comrades all, in words that mark 
The outlines of such task, the sergeant speaks: 
" Our line lay waiting yonder to our right 



171 



Acr^ that ndge and m the hollow deep, 
Whose head is near the rebel fort, yet soon 
Bends to and keeps its course along the works. 
Bright was the morn and cloudless all the sky, 
And earth seemed softly coy with blushing flowr's, 
And notes of birds beat time for winged balls, 
When heard we there the stirring words: 'At ten 
Charge on the works!' Such words, or like, the lines 
From right to left along the foeman's front 
AD heard, and knew that all th' assault would make. 
Two hours, then on! to death, or wounds at least, 
If any death escaped. But, save the weight 
Of waiting thus, a ready spirit held 
The army. Those not called the heights to climb 
Such message received and treasures, such 
As friends left desolate might need or prize. 
And when the hour had come we stood in line, 
Numb'ring 'one, two, one, two,' until we knew 
Twelve score alone remained for battle fierce, 

172 



Of what you saw at home a four-fold force. 
And "then the GenVal came, and these his words: 

'Shoulder arms! Right shoulder shift arms! Right face; 
save your loads to shoot the flying rebels, and make 
straight for the court house; forward to battle and to 
victory. March! P 

By flank in column, marching on and up 
That ever less'ning vale we pressed, till now 
The height full steep was gained. Amid 
The storm of bounding shot and bursting shell 
That poured unceasing from our batteries, 
Slight life appeared along the line, where erst 
Had waited foeman brave. But when the head 
Of column crowned the height, eight men, the four 
Behind the four, and first to strike the top, 
Eight men a moment stood, and then — one man! 
Up, pressing forward still the column pushed 
And o'er its dead and by its wounded swift. 
Scant time to dally when the lines before 

173 



Swarmed with their ranks in double column drawn 
Where gave their winding trench protection sure 
Protection! Yet sometimes they stood half seen 
Above their works; no child's play, theirs or ours. 
And soon did haste the whole brigade along, 
And gave its evVy man a place somewhere 
Upon the ridges near the foeman's trench. 
Somewhere, amid that awful storm where words 
Mock meaning if they seek to tell the roar 
And crash and shriek of strife. Lo, bursts the shell, 
And hurls its shivered hatred swift and hard 
A thousand ways, and unseen rifle ball 
Kisses its curse with only lesser voice, 
And fiercer sent, the iron bands of death 
Scatter their screaming circles far, where grape 
Crowds flying canister, while weighty shot, 
Long, rifled, twists its onward course, blue veined 
And visible and yet unseen, with rush 
Whose deathly, train-like sweep, and sound 

i 74 



Like near tornado, drowns the voice of all, 
Climax of wrath! 

Such the infernal shower! 
Forts front and flank their awful carnage wrought, 
And never held the charging line more men 
Than stood at shelter in the works before. 
Once did the foeman waver, and a few 
Retreat, but rallied were 'mid curses loud 
Of officers; nor time had our advance, 
Far scattered, then to press the vantage fair, 
Ere from the left their heavy lines swept on, 
— A fresh brigade that manned anew the trench 
Already filled and more, to meet our charge. 
No time had we, I said, the vantage great 
Ere this to press, but it were truth to say 
Slight chance they gave who held o'er us command, 
But hindered as we see it now, tho 1 then 
None saw it thus, and best to them instead 
Did seem the order given at the hour — 

i7S 



Crisis of triumph or of loss. — u Lie down!" 
Command that rang along the line, and yet, 
While many heard, not heard by all, and thus 
Scattered before through narrow, rugged path, 
More scattered now, amid that storm of wrath 
— The fearfulest man ever dared and lived — 
The most were kept an awful moment there 
And checked the gathering onward impetus 
Whose tierce momentum else had rolled its waves 
High o'er the parapet. Costly the rest! 
Unbroken e'er, by many a brave, bold heart, 
Who heard not, heeded nevermore command. 
Wounded, here fell field officers, each one 
We claimed, whose regiment the van did lead, 
And left less certain still th' uncertain plan. 
Perchance 't was hoped delay would mass the troops 
Where fire so hot consumed the slender van, 
Since few at once could climb the narrow slope. 
Forth from whose shelter came the whole brigade* 

176 



And light the column's head to break the line 
Of foe. But greater loss had we than gain. 
Yon corporal did fall but halt reclined 
On soldiers twain, too close to give him room 
Entire upon the dusty road which formed, 
With slanting side, low rampart for the head; 
When rifle ball pierced both below. Above, 
He safe between two dead men lay. And ■ here 
I watched the column crown the height o'er which 
We had but come. Five men advanced; but when 
The fifth the level pressed, the stroke of ball, 
With dull thud sounding, smote his side. He fell, 
And stroke on stroke upon that prostrate form, 
As post receives the shot of rifleman, 
So sounded, muffled, dead, the balls on him. 
Next him, that man you see there, followed close, 
And from his hand with splint'ring shock, his gun 
A grape shot struck, and yet right on he came. 
Swift passed this moment that we lay 'mid death, 

12 177 



Who heard the order thus to wait, but those 
Who heard it not, had onward pressed their way 
And gained upon us. Nor must you the thought 
Of long delay, possess; and yet a score 
Of feet that took the soldiers near the foe 
In time like this, were vast in breadth of life. 
'Forward!' Up sprang the line and swiftly pressed 
Near and more near the foe; and pushed in haste, 
Up o'er the height and on the wagon road 
Leading to Baldwin's ferry from the town, 
A gun from a field battery by hand 
Was hurried on. Almost against the fort 
The cannoneers did seem to plant their piece, 
That belched its shotted breath into the face 
Of foe. Straight thro' embrasure broke the shell, 
And meeting issuing shell from hostile gun. 
Joined iron conflict at the muzzle grim. 
Both burst; and in the equal strife and death, 
Destroyed the cannon in the fort. But soon 

178 



The o'er bold cannon was withdrawn, enwreathed 

With smoke of battle grander than the wreath 

Of laurel green. Meanwhile, scant time in truth, 

Was ours to use the rifle; and, besides, 

We sought close conflict as the order was," 

" Thus sorely hampered, fired you not a gun ?" 

"Some here, and there, yet little room had we, 

If freed from such restraint the order fixed, 

Seeking the parapet, to stay our steps 

Even for that. Well, I remember how 

A minie, beating with a spiteful blow 

The dusty road beside my foot, had crushed 

If nearer aimed, my small but useful toe, 

And brought me death, may be. Achilles like, 

Save that my loss had proved me bold, while his, 

Discovery new, betrayed the swift of foot, 

His back presenting to the Trojan line. 

Meanwhile the battle flag and he who bore 

With spirit brave the colors on, had reached 



179 



The ditch, into it leaped and up and out 
Had climbed, and on the flaming parapet 
Stood fast!" 

"And there beside him close were you!" 
a Not I! I see I need to tell with care 
Our progress here to you who are unused 
To military speech. When came our first 
Upon the hilltop from the hollow's head, 
Only four men, with fours behind the four r 
Led the long, narrow column to the fight, 
Whose purpose was a broader front to form 
Above if it might be. And when these four 
And following fours first reached the height, I 

marched 
Among the last in regimental line, and thus 
Behind yet others reached the top. When came 
The word to wait a space, I still had failed 
To come among the men who started first 
And going on, had kept the distance fair. 

i So 



Besides, my cit, another order sent 

The - regimental left, my post in line, 

A circle's fourth in swinging speed along, 

To point beyond where stayed the van. ' On left.' 

And * into line,' the words, and thus 't was ours 

To pass the farther distance 'neath the fire 

Of death, before the task to us assigned 

Could fairly be begun. Hence all the right 

Whose path lay straight from that dread summit on, 

Would not by us be followed, save to gain, 

As they had gained before us, height of death. 

Yet some I passed, for vig'rous vines' embrace 

The swa}dng branches oft together tied, 

And laid their snares along the steep ravines. 

Besides the ground above and toward the foe 

All broken into gullies deep and wide, 

Gave no fixed line a permanence. 

And as I speak of what is now well known 

Nor known in full when onward swept the charge, 



So may I say the task assigned us there 
By mortals none in fairest days of peace 
Had been accomplished. While we sought to meet 
The hard demand, the men who hastened on, 
E'en while we lay the moment where we fell, 
Had near the foeman's fort approached, and now 
While some were tangled 'midst the vines, and some 
Were slain or wounded, and the left still sought 
Their place, far scattered all — a skirmish line 
Whose true support would join the fight no more — 
The flag flapped in the sudden breeze. ' Twas seen 
Upon the right, nor near us, yet my heart 
Throbbed stroke triumphant and my step was quick: 
If ever speed I had, I had it then, 
To join the few who hastened where its light 
Allured. Before me yawned a sudden chasm 
Barring my way, and o'er it I must go, 
Ere up the slope I pressed to gain the men 
Already climbing steadily its breast. 

182 



I plunged and rolled its slanting side along, 
And. climbed to where the ridge began, 
Upon whose nearer crown the strong fort stood." 
"Then over ditch and rampart high you went!" 
u No there I stopped!" the cool and calm reply. 
" Good heavens! The prize so near and yet when 

came 
The crisis all }'our former courage failed! 
I'd gone and taken Vicksburg when so near." 
" Oh that you had been there!" 

"But why your halt?" 
The friend unmindful of the words still pressed 
What most his mind felt, and was answered thus: 
" I did not see a soldier when I came 
Thus near the ditch. The flag was gone. I heard 
Boasts in the rebel line of high success. 
To make the story short with knowledge now 
Possessed, the standard bearer placed the flag — 
That emblem of a nation's pride and pow'r — 

183 



Upon the fort, his comrade wounded sore 
And soon to die who held the mating flag, 
And thus alone he led, but he and they 
Who with him were, or followed close, their place 
A moment held and sharp the conflict waged, 
But soon o'ermatched in numbers, and not helped 
With added force from FedVal lines, with more 
Than one black muzzle at his breast, the man 
Who bore the flag from out the strong works went 
Pris'ner, not captor. There! the story's told." 
" But where in name of loyalty were those — 
The soldiers who should keep the flag or die?" 
" And die they did, and many a body lay 
Along that slope and by the ditch above. 
And dead they were when I had got beyond 
My gully deep to see. And dead had been 
This soldier whom you scorn, if he had tried 
Alone to storm the place." 

" And you did naught !" 

iS 4 



u O yes! I got down where I felt more safe." 
"And so you might as well have stayed away!" 
" Well, yes. I rather think that way myself." 
" What good, then, did you do ? Not hurt yourself 
Nor hurting foe." " Not hurt myself, 'tis true. 
But then you could have seen a hundred men 
Or near, of regiment you knew at home, 
Hurt, and to die, some soon, from awful wounds; 
And on the field dead, dead a score from those 
Who scant twelve score had formed their line to 

charge. 
Like ruin fell upon the whole brigade. 
What damage to the foe ? Something of ill, 
But truly less by far than he wrought us. 
We did some work in picking off the heads 
That showed their front as all along the hills 
We waited night of that sad day in May. 
If less had fallen at the start, more strength 
Were ours to hurl against the foe." 

185 



u You thought 
The short delay did add to ruin dire, 
By scattering more your scattered line; but why 
Could not those leading all the van hear too 
The order?" "I can say but this: the ground 
So broken broke the true alignment too, 
And those before too far had got to heed 
The cry that vied but faintly with the notes 
Of cannons' thunder. And indeed, few saw 
The nation's banner as it led the way, 
And fewer still had seen it if the feet 
Of him who bore it had not tripped in grasp 
Of stakes, cheval-defrise, and thus delayed 
His onward course. Nor many knew of all 
Amid the awful fire, of what I've told; 
Nor order heard they all, to wait, nor all 
Did see the few fly backward from the trench, 
Nor all beheld the reinforcement large 
Of foe. For in succession scarce did come 

186 



Events so dread, but seemed instead to be 
At moment same. Nor long the white-hot flame 
Of battle burned; five minutes brought the strife 
To its full strength. And this I know ; we first 
From all our front received the hardest blows." 
u But did not all as one the charge attempt ?" 
" Aye, or we tried to, but sometimes the place 
From which the column started, nearer was 
And sooner came to danger. On our left 
As lay the few with me upon the slope, 
Beneath the hottest sun that ever scorched, 
When lost with us success, I saw the line 
Of blue advance, and gallantly the fort 
Which yonder stands, scale swift and soon. Their flag 
Upon the parapet, as ours had done, 
Waved in its beauty. Now I saw the blue 
Upon the ramparts ranged, and now within 
Leap down. And one and two and three, and more 
Gray-coated soldiers haste to climb 

187 



Their fort, and speed them down the hill to seek 
Our lines. What means it ? Victory we think. 
And livelier our rifles keep the foemen close 
Before us. Look again ! Now waves a sword 
Flashing its sunflame bright, asking for aid 
Which comes not. Look again! The flag is gone. 
And now as slow the sun sinks westering, 
A clear shout rings beyond the hills afar, 
And nearer comes, and now the foeman's flag 
Floats once again upon that fort ! I hear 
Talk, eager and excited, and can tell the words 
As this one boasts of fatal shots, and that 
How first he gained again the forts. An act 
Brave and rewarded fitly here was wrought. 
A sergeant, Griffith, sole survivor there 
Of all who scaled the height and got within, 
For slain the others, slain the foe as well, 
Since open was the first redoubt to works 
Behind, and swept by cannon shot so none 

188 



Could live; this man uprose and bade them come 

Who -still remained alive, and follow him 

To safety, pris'ners though their lot. They went, 

And these I saw as down the hither slope 

They ran. But failed we all along the line, 

Nor else could do with force we had at hand, 

Restrained from use of rifle, and the lips 

Hushed from the quick'ning cheer, and scattered wide r 

And where the guiding voice not all could hear,. 

E'en if that voice the just command had giv'n. 

In truth the reasons seem to multiply, 

But knowing naught of all that tangled way — 

The fruitful source of every error made — 

And meeting plucky soldiers bold to fight, 

With force no more than then the dread charge made, 

— Such was the task, — no living men could storm 

Vicksburg. But now 'tis different. If need 

To charge again, to enter it were ours; 

Yet relish for the deed is not o'er great. 

189 



Three days and nights passed by, and when the truce 
Stayed strife, and buried we our slain, we used 
Our eyes the while and saw how lay the land, 
And since that hour advance hath slowly been.'' 
"A truce! for what ?" 

" To care for wounded men, 
And bury lovingly our noble dead. 
Three days they lay unreached between our lines, 
And through the nights their low moans struck 

our ears, 
But Pemberton permitted not our help 
Till fear of pestilence his nature moved. 
And then a few brief hours we spent in work 
The like of which I wish not e'er again to do. 
I saw the hospital the day which came 
After the charge; and wounds of sickling shape, 
And heaped up hands and arms and legs along 
The space where surgeon's blade had carved its way, 
And on the ear the groans of pain pierced men, 

190 



Ill-faring 'mid the lack of comforts there. 

All this was hard to see and bear, but still 

Not like the sights and sounds where storm of strife 

Had left its wrecks uncared for days and nights. 

Some died an hour before we came, as some 

Sore wounded but alive did tell us. One, 

An officer whose voice for two nights wailed 

Its feeble cry heard by his men, tho' help 

Could reach him not, so near the lines he lay 

Of enemy, who feared our line as well, 

Died but a moment ere we reached the spot. 

But how we hid their mangled forms in earth 

Ask not!" "But when did you get out that day? 1 ' 

u To answer full, the regimental line 

What few a captain's voice could reach to whom 

Had fallen the command, late hour relieved, 

Beneath the shelter of the slope returned ; 

And to the roll-caM one by one replied 

The seventy-five that stood in line. And while 

191 



The voices few did answer, straight along 

Forth from their lines the rebels came to sweep 

The remnants of a beaten foe away. 

But as they marched with flank exposed, these few 

Upon their left advanced with rapid fire, 

And sent them whirling back into their works. 

Thence passed they to their former place. But I r 

With others, drifted by the battle tide 

Along the ridges left, heard no command, 

But waiting night, did help a wounded man 

Back o'er the slopes as straight as we could come. 

I heard proposal in the fort to search our ditch 

For Yankee prisoners, but they came not 

To capture us — no easy task I ween — 

For even men not over brave may grow 

Desp'rate, and such were we. And thus amid 

The rain of scattering balls aimed all amiss, 

We passed in safety to our lines again." 



192 



a O yes! O yes! Here's your sowbelly and 

CORN BREAD V 

Rang out a clarion voice as if it feared 
No foe; and startled, spoke the citizen: 
"What rough, loud speech is that?" 

" Be not o'ercome, 
'Tis but a call to breakfast brought at last, 
And follow me if you would get your share!" 
" You mean to eat this greasy, glistening meat, 
And cold at that, on this hot day ?" 

"Just so! 
And glad to get it, too. Mule meat have they, 
And little of it, inside yonder works." 

13 193 



PART III.— BOOK 5. 




s V'NING had come upon the camp 
HMk half hid 

In earth, where hollowed slope and 
"^(p/^ mimic cave 

Held soldiers safe what time there was for sleep 
But came an orderly anon and gave 
A message brief, and taking each his gun, 
They formed short line beneath the shelt'ring hill; 
But first the sergeant turned and spoke his friend: 
" Detailed am I for picket guard, — reserve. 



195 



My Hearty, will you go or will you rest 
Peacefully, sweetly, on our last night's couch ?" 
Doleful was his reply, and slowly made: 
" Go ? worse I cannot be, and still desire 
To learn of soldier life, albeit rough." 
But lo! there comes a call for Sergeant Mars 
To post the pickets in the near advance. 
Oft had he led the line, and now best knew 
The place of each. Nor was it now his task, 
Task not o'er fondly loved, but task of those 
Who called for guide to lead in paths unknown. 
But willing in such need to grant his aid, 
The sergeant thither turned his ready steps. 
With him we go to learn how pickets near 
Works hostile stand. Across the upthrown bank 
Of rifle trench the sergeant leads the way, 
And as they into darkness pass, speaks thus: 
" With care! When shines the moon your forms 
Are targets for a ball along this slope. 

196 



Now in this shadow halt and forward send 
Yon picket where this little brook, long dry 
Doth bend toward us its course. No word speak here, 
Nor challenge give if one should cross the height 
Above. The only sound your rifle's voice! 
Learn now the panther's stealthy tread, nor show 
The front of face an inch. The gray coat lies 
In guard five paces hence. Your picket place 
Hugging the very earth, and bid him send 
Quick as his thought the minie, if he sees 
The merest stir beneath that clump of trees. 
Once more! Leave here reserves for all the posts, 
The}' 're safe from rifle ball and cannon shot : 
Only no fire, nor noise to rouse the foe. 
Bring hither one more guard and send him on 
Alone and carefully. That cotton bale! 
A straight line let him keep behind it! Twice 
Or thrice the man who swerved a hair aside, 
Has met the hissing ball from } T onder fort. 



197 



Held by the wakeful Texan foe. When there 

Bid him be watchful, yet show not a hand 

Or foot or lock of hair to right or left. 

The ' cotton bale ' is post well known to those 

Who hold the rifle line beyond. Once there, 

A good outlook is ours for movement large, 

Should there be such. To watch and swift report, 

His duty is. And yonder one guard more 

Where lies th' uprooted tree and close behind 

The breastwork of its matted base. Relieve 

Each second hour. If action to resist 

Arise, send messenger with speed away where lies 

Upon its arms the heavier reserve.' 7 

Leaving this line he hastened to return, 

And- reached the strong reserve in time to hear 

The soldier poet to the others speak. 

"Why sleep to night? We may be called to work 

As hot as we can stand. 'Tis safe upon this side 

The hill that mates the one yon fort 's on. Come 

198 



A story each to while the hours away!" 
" With yours begin, 1 ' a comrade cries, and he, 
"To shrink from what I have of others asked 
Were poor example. Listen while I tell 
Experience true 'mid the Arkansas hills." 

PICKET IN ARKANSAS. 



Arkansas! uncomely, with hills thicket grown, 
With winding and clear running river, 

Arkansas, the dread of the sentry alone, 
Where grasses and leaves are aquiver, 

'Tis night in thy borders! The stars from the sky 
Look down where the camp lies a sleeping, 

And dimly reveal the dark gunboat below 
'Neath which the wild waters are sweeping. 

'Tis midnight! and pickets along the outposts 

Their duty in silence are doing; 

For foemen alert and with eyesight undimmed 

Each object before them are viewing. 



199 



But list to the sound from the river afar, 

Of bells where the gunboat is lying, 
Eight strokes! They are music to guards as they hear 

The notes in the distance now dying. 

There's a post on the hill where the thicket is dense, 

And grasses grow tall and together, 

Where leaflets are brown and are falling away 

From touch of the frost-breathing weather. 

The sentinel waits in a shadow dark hid, 

The corp'ral a moment is bending 
Above the dim fire as it flashes and falls, 

A fitful, faint light o'er him sending. 

Hark! was it leaf as it fell from its bough, 

That rustle all meaningless making? 
Or limb broken loose from its last dying grasp, 

Or whisper of night winds awaking? 

The Corp'ral starts up, and the guard in the gloom 
Keeps close that no foeman may spy him, 

Sharp ringing, the voice of a rifle speaks out, 
A bullet speeds hissing just by him. 



'By heavens! 'twas close; he has touched me tho' slight," 

The Corp'ral cried out to the picket. 
"Quick, fire! The smoke! see it rises just there!" 

Their bullets speed fast toward the thicket. 

The echo at last in the woodland grew still, 

The starlight no foe was revealing. 
The pickets again in their quiet stood guard, 

And o'er all the old silence came stealing. 

A little beyond where the sentinel stood 
A hollow led up toward the picket, 
Here found we in time, hidden half 'mid the leaves, 
A mouldering form in the thicket. 

Beside it a rifle lay, rusty and old, 

Unclasped by the hand now decaying, 
And startled, upflew from their feast on the dead, 

The birds that upon it were preying. 

And knew we no more of the nameless, the dead, 

Than that he with a cowardly daring 
Crept nigh to our picket with death in his heart, 

'Twas all! nor for more were we cariner." 



u Aye! served him right, 1 ' said Sergeant Mars, his 

speech 
Delaying not. " The skulking foe not oft 
So soon receives his just deserts. But who 
Would care to try the soldier's life, if he 
Must meet his death ingloriously, at hands 
Of foe he cannot see ? Not I, for one. 
War ought to be an open test of strength, 
And if it tend to cruelty as say 
Those trying not its front, should thus be met 
And stemmed the downward curent. Face to face 
And waged to victory or honored death, 
War must command each sterling soul's esteem 
And nowise weaken manhood. Nay, upbuild 
A mighty courage, stiffen the backbone, 
And give the world a race worth cherishing, 
For that grand virtues into giants grow 
Where war's strong hand the true disciple leads !. 
Endurance! breasting long the storm, to gain 



By bold aggressive stroke, the weighty prize. 

Endurance, when to gain no hope shines lair, 

Yet stands the soul as bedded mountain wall, 

Receiving all the shock of surging strife ; 

Receiving yet above it standing strong, 

A great, mute, matchless conqueror ! 

Patience! to rule the spirit else disturbed. 

And, germ of potency, to grow again, 

The outer shell of hard endurance, broke 

Perchance beneath some awful blow adverse. 

Daring! that mocks at danger nigh and dread, 

And lifts the laggard body on the wings 

Of brave, exultant spirit, till it shares 

Already life beyond its grosser sphere, 

And with its feebler hand plucks noblest fruit 

Of deed unselfish, till some times it wins 

The well earned crown of immortality, 

— A name that dies not from the thoughts of men I'* 

To him another thus an answer made: 

205, 



" Yes, yes, War's tendenc} T in open held 

To make the man a stronger man, received 

Large proof on yesterday, the test myself. 

Sharpshooters we, and held the rifle pits, 

Our duty — keeping down the hostile heads 

That ventured to uplift and note our acts. 

And well we did it, for we first began 

And kept the easy 'vantage through the day. 

But it was dull enough at noon. No sign 

Of hat or head or hand. No flag to win 

An easy glory by our ready shot. 

We tired of firing at the forts of clay, 

With nothing gained beyond a breath of dust 

As grazed the minie sharp the rampart's crown: 

Of shelling with our rifles raised, the dome 

Of yonder court house, full two miles away. 

I set my musket down and turned to scan 

With borrowed field-glass what our front might show. 

Nor long had I thus gazed till on the left 

.204 



Sprang up a man and walked the top along 
A score of feet, and where yon fort begins, 
Leaped down! I saw his broad-brimmed hat and coat 
Of jeans, with threads of brown that flashed with brass, 
As e'en the buttons counted, met my eye. 
My musket quick I grasped, but ah, too late! 
To charge the piece again I had forgot, 
And ere I this could do, and while the cap 
Trembled upon the tube, he whom I willed, 
With whatsoever skill I had, to shoot, 
Was gone. A moment more and I had slain, 
Or vainly tried to slay, a man like you ! 
But what emotion then o'erwhelmed my soul ? 
A bitter disappointment, keen regret, 
That I had failed to charge my gun and lost 
The chance so rare. And verily I never thought 
Till now, how I have proved your case, and shown 
How healthy, open war ennobles men, 
— The ordinary man — with yet some brains 

205 



Above a heart, with some humanity. 1 ' 
Reply came prompt from Mars: "But you are wrong, 
A habit born of spirit true, you set 
Apart from motive prompting at the first, 
And cannot change my argument.'" And here 
Upspake the soldier, seen and heard before, 
He of the wiht'ring brow, not loving war: 
" And what needs he of proof beyond this fact, 
That war occasion gives for habits 7 growth, 
So that forsooth we kill our man and think 
Of him as think we of the game we slay.'" 
Nor was the converse ended when with haste 
The wakeful sergeant to his comrades said: 
"A rifle shot in front! Your guns! In place 
At once ! — ,r Hs picket from the cotton bale 
That's come, driven in or sent from front reserve/ 1 
And he with much ado excited cried: 
"My arm ! my arm ! 'tis broken, quick your help! 11 
Brief search they made, and then the sergeant smiled; 

206 



"There's break of skin — that's all — ," but he deep 

stirred, 
"And more, I'm sure there's more. It stung as sharp 
As thrust of bay'net through and through. I tried 
To see somewhere some head at which to aim 
And got my elbow just outside the edge 
Of that old bale before me, and the pain 
Danced agony ere I had heard the shot." 
"I'll tell you why. It struck your crazy bone.' 1 
" That's so, I guess. Laugh if you will, but you 
Would laugh less yonder on the picket post. 
Go try it for awhile. I'll not go back!" 
" That seems a jolly thing to start a )augh! 
He might have had the bullet in his heart." 
Thus spoke the elder soldier wisely grave, 
As disappeared the picket from their sight; 
While thus the stream of merriment ran on: 
" And yet it was a joke and ended well. 
'Turn naught to darker gloom than there is need. 

207 



Whose story next? " ' Tis yours," say all, and he, 

" A joke that wears no sober side I'll tell 

In speech as plain as doth become plain man. 

1 T was when I first had 'listed and was sent 

On picket in Missouri. Soon we learned 

Ourselves to keep provided with fresh meat. 

One day there came a rebel by who gave 

No countersign when challenged, save to grunt 

A grunt of deep contempt for union arms. 

We shot him, skinned him, hung him up and saw 

In store a lordly feast upon his flesh. 

But lo! an officer came riding by. 

And giving password, caught a glimpse of what 

So bravely we had done. "Who killed that hog? 

Whose meat is that ?" he asked in question stern. 

Not one replied. Again he asked: "Do you claim- 

that ?" 
But silence golden was, we thought, nor used 
Our eloquence to tell of deed so bold. 

208 



"Well!" said he sharply, "if none own the meat, 

'Tis pity it should spoil; Pll take it home." 

His actions to his words were true and quick, 

The man and hog, both hogs in fact, were gone. 

He had no right, but had seen service more." 

Our laugh was interrupted by the cry, 

"Look! look! the shells from Porter's mortar boats! 

Another and another. You can hear 

The loud report just when the little light, 

Sole signal of that iron globe of death, 

Turns earthward from the sky it seemed to storm. 

That one exploded! There's another still! 

How swift it rushes down upon its prey, 

The city sleeping calm and peacefully." 

" Not sleeping much, I say; more safe are we," 

Replies another, watching thus the shells. 

" That one did not explode!" " That did! and that!" 

And so the shells and so the comments flashed, 

'Till he that first had spoken, spoke again. 

14 209 



"Good hap, my comrades, this. On that side they, 
To hurl these fiery demons down, and we 
On this, to keep the foe within the town. 
Friends there and here join hands invisible, 
And form a charmed circle none can break. 
Ours, ours shall be this river queen." 

And still 
Words follow till at last the poet's voice: 
U A sight worth seeing, yonder changeful stars! 
Above the shining spires first flames the light, 
And higher still the twinkling splendor beams 
Akin to stars that glow their love to earth 
From fields afar in heav'n. Awhile, it holds 
Its home amid the stars a kindred fire, 
— A moment brief, — then trembles to its fall, 
And losing love and sweetness from its heart, 
As turns it from the heaven's fair face away, 
It glares a fury beam toward earth, and speeds 
With growing terrors terrible to bear, 



Swift to its end, 'mid rushing thunder loud, 
And bursts its heart of wrath as Samson died, 
Doing its work of might and perishing." 
"Demon of wrath, no doubt, they think it there," 
One answered;" but to us in very truth 
Angel of righteous vengeance none too soon 
Sent forth to do God's will!" And as he spoke, 
All clear and sweet the town clock of the foe 
Ten strokes rang out, and some began to sleep, 
While one kept guard to waken them at need. 




PART III.— BOOK 6. 

HOME! and love, its flower! that grew 

of old, 
And first in Paradise, of all most 

fair! 

O home ! O love ! the only blossom bright 
Transplanted from that Paradise to earth 
That semblance bears of primal beauty still; 
Flow'r of perpetual bloom that everywhere 
Breathes perfume of the true Atlantis lost, 
Thou hast a place e'en here midst war's alarms! 
Alas! what hath war wrought? Yon cottage neat, 



-'3 



Where love embowered lingered long, is closed; 
And like a brood affrighted from the nest, 
Parent and child have fled with hasty steps 
And sought the refuge of the sheltering hills. 
Lo, here cut deep an entrance leads within, 
And caves here in the hillsides dark protect 
The many from the falling bomb and ball. 
Here at the hour when shadows gather fast 
Along the slopes, within the grotto's mouth 
Rests the wan mother with her children twain. 
Sleeps one, — the babe, — held tenderly, and one 
The sweet Mabelle, and wise beyond her years, 
Scarce four, leans on the mother's knee and asks 
Strange questions as is oft her wont, while she, 
The mother, seeks to give the wise reply. 
"Mamma!" 

" What is it that my child would ask?" 
a Will papa come to night?" 

" No, darling, no. 



He watches on the picket post, to come, 
I always fear, no more. O when will war 
So pitiless be ended!" 

"What is war?" 
u Cruelty, child, so hurting hearts that lie 
Beneath its touch they can be glad no more." 
" Was war what, made you cry when Robbie died?" 
"Yes, that; for little Robbie's papa fell 
When fierce the battle raged on Shilohfs field. 
You cannot understand, my darling one, 
And would the need should never be to know 
More than thy young heart knows. But when we 

heard, 
Then Robbie's mamma sickened out of grief, 
And went to God, and left your cousin here 
For you to love a little while before 
He too was taken home, a babe to heaven." 
" Are they all safe from war?" 

"Yes, safe, sweet one. 

215 



They loved to think of heaven while they lived, 
The}' loved God's well beloved Son, and now 
They in His presence love Him still." 

"Do they 
Look down and see you? Do they know the war 
Still makes you cry, dear mamma? If they live 
Why do they never speak, nor come and help? 
Your little girl would come so quick to you 
If she were safe in heav'n, and }ou were here 
So sad. O see! O see the falling stars! 
Not far away, but coming near us now." 
It was a sudden shell that upward wheeled. 
Whose single sparkle, as they looked, had stayed 
Its course midway the far blue arch, and now 
With sound as if a thousand eagles swooped, 
Wings beating hard, — an awful shrieking rush — 
Fell close and burst with deaf'ning roar. Mabelle 
A shriek of terror uttered, and the babe 
Awoke, and to the safer room withdrawn, 



216 



The mother seeks to soothe its cries. But while 
She tries, and gains her wish, before the cave 
Men bear a citizen struck down. She hears 
At last the whispered question of her child. 
" Was that star filled with thunder ?" 
" Death, my child. 
O God! hear thou the mother's prayer in hour so 

dread!" 
" O mamma, I shall never want to look 
At stars again in all my life." 

"The sky, 
Mabelle, holds stars that never fall, but shine 
In beauty blessing all the earth. Look there, 
My child, in gladness, for below I fear 
Will come to thee, as to us all, the grief 
Which clouds this life forevermore. God holds 
His stars secure in yonder sky. They shine 
High fixed above what seem your falling stars. 
O child, there safety is alone. God keep 

217 



Thee ever when thy life shall cease below 

As safe and free from ill received or wrought, 

As they this hour. And may thy heart but know 

His love and strength, for then shall be for thee 

A safer home than know the safest stars." 

" Mamma! If I were star so good, so safe 

As they that sparkle in the sky, I'd keep 

The naughty stars from falling." As she spoke 

A second shell came whirling fast and fierce 

And heavily, as demon downward cast, 

But farther fell, yet woke again the babe, 

Whom tenderly the mother comforted. 

" Hush, hush, my babe, and hide the love-bright eyes, 

From sight too sad to greet their tenderness. 

Sleep, sweetest, sleep, if sleep may bring its balm, 

In pain of strife, to even thy young heart." 

" Sing, mamma, sing a lullaby to her, 

Dear baby sister and to me!" 

" What song 

2lS 



Can mamma sing in place so filled with fears ?" 
" O, sing about the stars, the bright, good stars 
That never, never fall." 

And with a vcice 
That trembling, shook its tears aside, she sang: 



-a-F 






%=*- 



0- 



4=t 



1. Lit - tie stars a - bove us shin-ing, Al-ways in the sky, 



'-0 



•-#: 






1 



Look - ing down, but nev - er fall - ing, Nev - er mak - ing 



— y- 



ba - by cry. Watch her still till by and by. 

Angel stars on baby smiling, 
Safe in yonder sky, 

Keep the naughty stars from falling, 
Always making baby cry, 
And she'll bless you by and by. 

Softly the low notes rose and soothed the babe, 
But moved by thoughts her own the mother kept 
A little while the minor strain, and sang: 



219 



Little heart so softly sleeping, 
Heav'n so safe and high, 

Hath no brighter star in keeping,. 
Far above the bending sky, 
Than thou shalt be, by and by. 

By and by! O faith be perfect! 
Tho' the silent sky 

Keeps the starry souls resplendent, 
Bringing ne'er their comfort nigh, 
Silent, too, till by and by. 

Naughty stars, O sad heart sorrow, 
Falling till we die, 

Tho' yon loving help be holden, 
Leaving thee we soon may try 
Their sweet rest in by and by. 



"Mamma, what makes you cry?" " The cruel war ! ,r 
"Will it ne'er cease, nor we be glad again ?" 




PART III— BOOK 7. 

HILE now the sergeant and his friend 
did rest 

In safety on the hillside camp, there 
passed 

Two soldiers on the path below. They chose 
That path which o'er the open railroad led, 
Abandoned long; for rifle balls had cut 
A standing post, and whittled it, till all 
The camp had learned to dread that way, tho' near. 
These up the slope did follow, and across 
The level track the first half way had gone: 



The second but a foot upon the tie 
Had pressed, and turned to speak reply to words 
Of friendly warning shouted in alarm, 
When hissed the fatal minie, and did pierce 
His temple. Swift they bore him back, but dead. 
A simple burial was his. A grave 
Full shallow on the slope was made and he, 
Within his blanket wrapped, was hid from sight. 
Meanwhile, more sobered than if death had come 
'Mid fiercest battle, sat they there and talked: 
And one brought by a picture he had found 
Where fell the soldier in his blood, and this 
Was stained with blood: A picture plain and yet 
Mayhap that loving heart at home was pierced, 
By that same stroke which gave to him who kept 
That likeness. While they spake, a loud report 
From cannon on the hill above, beyond 
The railroad, came with shout and laugh. They 
turned 



To see, and lo, the piece that sent its shell 

Hot on the foe, had reeled, and ill restrained, 

Rolled downward o'er the steep, long slope, 

Nor rested till its base remained at ease 

Upon the hollow's bed, there pointing straight 

Its grim, war-blackened muzzle to the sky. 

Upon the sight so comical there looked 

A visitor from some near battery, 

As now he left the hill with merry jest 

At this, his comrades' deadly mode of strife 

By which the front and rear were threatened both, 

He too, unconscious of the soldier's fate, 

Slain but an hour before, did stay his steps 

Upon the railroad track, but nearer where 

It pierced the hill, and more exposed, to see 

What of the hostile line he could. Mistake 

Most fatal! for the watchful rifleman 

The range, by practice long, exact possessed. 

Full on his forehead smote the ball; and he 

223 



With leap convulsive, fell afar, and near 
Where sat the sergeant and his friend. Such acts 
Of kindness as might be, were rendered prompt, 
And word passed swiftly brought his comrades down 
Who bore him back and for him cared what way 
They could. And sick at heart, the citizen 
Declared his purpose. " Sergeant, I must leave. 
These scenes are sad, too sad for me;" nor closed 
With speech his thought, before the orderly 
Once more appeared and named the sergeant's name. 
This time the labor, oft and hard, — fatigue, 
On rifle pit on far advance, his hand 
With others, must continue. " Nay," said he 
To Hearty, " you must learn this work as well, 
Before you go: and tho' 'tis relished ill, 
You'll soon forget, as we, depression great 
At death. Come, shake it off, and go! Indeed 
I think I'll use authority, for now 
Experience new you '11 taste." Consent he gave 

224 



At last; and night full soon came on, and they 

This order heard as fell they into line: 

" Let there be quiet in the ranks. We go 

To dig another trench extending on 

And working toward division on the right. 

It lies hard by the rebel line. Reliefs 

In charge of sergeants, thirty each, will be. 

And this to you, and this to you, and this 

The third to you,'"' and Sergeant Mars received, 

And to his friend as out they passed, spake thus: 

" Follow me close; this winding trench goes on 

Straight, leading toward the foe, along the track 

Of railroad old. Now leave its zigzag path 

For ground whose surface claims no finished trench, 

And hug the ties nor make too large a lump. 

And here we're hid somewhat, and here will wait 

Our time to take the spade. My rubber use, 

O citizen! I need it not; so warm 

The night and earth." And Hearty spoke surprised: 

15 225 



"But here are iron balls!" 

And he replied: 
" A fact, and hurled by rebel battery 
From yonder fort. Clear off a space for both." 
" But will you sleep here ?" 

" Certainly, why not ? 
Sleep here ? Aye, sleep a sleep as sweet and sound 
As e'er I had at home.'' 

"What if they try 
Their work again ?" 

" Why, then they must, that's all ! 
But we don't think they will. We Ve used this place 
Before. They like to sleep as well as we, 
And when we let them, do. Come, down and sleep." 
And whether slumber deep the weary man 
Held like the soldier, yet he slept to hear 
And slowly wake at words the sergeant spake. 
"Up! men, and at 'em! Citizen, your land 
Expects each man to do his duty. Spades!" 

226 



And led, the last relief came where the work 
Lay, on the line, near finished to the trench 
Upon the right. Stakes marked the winding course. 
"Come here!" the sergeant said, "and sink the pit 
From top, to depth of safety first." 

"But there 
They '11 see you if you do !" 

" And so can you 
See them as well! Work fast, and sink the line 
Along and deep, to hide yourself from sight; 
And dig with energy for life's at stake !" 
u How near that fort are we ?" he gasped. 
"A hundred yards at most; give me that spade 
A moment. We must burrow fast, my friend. 
And as he delved, his friend looked on amazed : 
" I never saw such speed ! YouVe gone half way. 
What's that? A ball ! They're shooting at us 

here." 
And, as the soldiers stayed their work, "wait now," 

227 



The sergeant said, a ancl see if they're not through, 
Ah ! volleys one — two — three ; they're Texas men 
In yonder fort; nor do they give delay. 
That's right, and get you where the pit is done." 
And while the} 7 safety sought, the sergeant stood 
Alone to see what best and next; and still 
The hissing minies came and he their mark. 
"Come, sergeant, with the rest! They'll shoot you 

sure," 
The soldiers urged, till he at last replied: 
"Not there; but less a mark I'll give. This grass 
Protects;" and in its waving plumes concealed 
He lay, to practice in his sphere conceit 
Most strange: that danger courted for itself 
By those responsible, is greater deed 
Than safety even justly sought, if sought 
Alike by others wanting his degree. 
And there he heard the citizen declare: 
" I'll get away if e'er I can," and this reply 

228 



From soldier near: "As well wait on till day; 
The trench is deep and shelter gives you here. 
Why act the fool to come at all? For here 
Would I not be did duty not compel." 
But silence falling, up he rose and spoke: 
"Come men, they're through. A half hour's work 

will join 
This to the rifle pit beyond. Let's haste: 
The dawn is nigh. Don't linger there. The pit 
If need arise, is shelter still for you!" 
Promptly they came, and soon the citizen; 
' The half hour's done and yonder comes the morn, 
Yes, and these balls ! They graze the upthrown 

dirt." 
"And the task's done! At will to quarters o-o!" 
Thus spoke the sergeant, then his friend addressed: 
"Well, citizen, you wrought not ill. Like it?" 
" Like it ? If ever you get me again 
On work like this you'll know it. Once a ball 



229 



Burned hot beside my ear. 17 

"Too long, perchance! 
But seldom are these fellows wakeful thus, 
And if they fire their aim is wide its marks. 
But come! the negro pioneers, late formed, 
Will work to-day and widen out the trench. n 
"So at the last you wisely deign to use 
Such labor, long most foolishly refused. 
But what's the sentiment among you here?" 
" ' Tis rather practical. The hand, they say, 
That plies the spade for me, or helps my task 
Of danger, welcome is; and if the ball 
Is stopped by his instead of body mine, 
' Tis well ! About thus reason some, the most,. 
It may be, yet the broader scope some take 
And question large and grave in all its weight 
Is judged by what is right, not politic. 
But here we are at home, ' sweet home ' again." 

230 



PART III.— BOOK 8. 




EST, such as comes to those unused 

to hours 
Broken of sleep, took Hearty in the 

day, 

That when he slept he half awaked, and when 
He wakened still he seemed to sleep. At last, 
All unrefreshed, assent he gave to walk 
With Sergeant Mars, fresh from an easy nap, 
Where springs supplied the water to the host. 
And underneath the bridge they took the path 



231 



Cut deep, the deadly railroad track to shun. 
"And how engaged is yonder group?" asked he, 
The friend, as on they went. "With games of dice." 
"But do the soldiers gamble, Sergeant Mars?" 
"Well, yes! A fever period sweeps the line, 
And many try their luck." "Not all?" c O, no! 
Not all, and then, against the sentiment. 
For each must back his deed with some defence, 
Even unasked. Yet rages oftentimes 
Contagion for the slippery chance, and some 
Go headlong you had not believed." " And there, 
Still farther on, are some who play with cards! 
Surprised? For sport they play." "But we were 

taught 
'Twas wrong." "What ill if but to pass the time?" 
" 'Tis dangerous, I say, but you must know." 
" If gambling evil is, then dangerous this. 
Of those I know, a hundred men, who first 
Played not and then did play for sport, but three 

232 



Remain of all who have not less or more 
Gambled, and these indeed who ne'er have learned 
To play. To know the use of sharp, edged tools 
Gives ease to cut what lies at hand, and games 
Grow weary oft and must some added zest 
Receive, as when some wager lies at stake. 
Yet when we came the first few days, along 
Our hillsides, like the snow-flakes large, appeared 
The cards, look where you would. The battle breeze 
Had early blown them from the soldier's hand." 
" Then some impression danger makes for good ?" 
"Surely. No true man lives in all our camp 
Who cares not something for the near unseen." 
u Your chaplains, then are active ?" 

" Like the world 
At large, of these are some most true, and some 
Worthless, and purpose grandly good and high, 
Rises and falls with the tide, now ebb, now flow. 
Yet much in truth the ill in army life 

233 



Acknowledge it at once. And war at best 

Doth have some fearful wrecks. And here you see 

Familiar grown, with death and danger nigh, 

Slight care have they for that which held at first 

Solemn and awful prospect. Here's the spring!" 

"Tis guarded; why?" "The spring's a treasure rare, 

And so we set a guard to watch it. Ours 

Is best; but if the guard had been late set, 

Inferior spring had fallen to our lot." 

u And venders here!" "Yes, soldiers, merchants turn'd, 

With cake of years and honor full, and sweets, 

How like the fruits from Araby the blest! 

— And various merchandise whose charms diverse 

Oft win their way brought to the purchaser, 

To save his visit to the sutler's stand, 

— Those noble, sacrificing men of war. 

Along this hollow here might well be called 

Our 'market street.' Trees lift their shelt'ring boughs; 

We'll rest awhile." 

234 



. " And no where else you find 
Water your need to meet?" 

" Upon our right, 
And more remote from springs, men go at night 
From either army, and on ground midway 
Meet where a deep well water gives, anear 
A house deserted. Here ofttimes they talk 
Keeping the tacit truce, till warned perchance 
By distant Vicksburg's clock, or conscious else 
The high debate for Right too warm has grown. 
They wisely separate to keep the peace." 
"What firing's that?" 

" The regular salute, 
Our heavy battery behind our lines !" 
" See! yonder great commotion is." "That's true, 
And let us walk that way and learn its cause. 
Ah, some one wounded! Tell us what it means!" 
The sergeant asked a soldier standing near; 
And he: "The heavy siege guns sending shells 

235 



With fuses cut too short. A sergeant there 
Issuing rations to the men, with hands 
Taking the rations from the box, was struck 
By falling fragment. Both hands fell at once 
Clean — cut into the box." "My God!" exclaimed 
The citizen, "why need they do such work ?" 
u Your answer were as good as mine," said Mars, 
"But hear! A second volley; yes, and see! 
It bursts, aye, short! And .there's a piece! 'Twill fall 
Here somewhere. You can see it! There it goes, 
And we are safe. But let us flee our guns." 
And as they hastened, spake the citizen: 
c> I never knew before a man could see 
Such falling piece and disbelieved you when 
Before, you said you saw the solid shot. 
I did not tell you so, but own it now. 
For that sharp whirring, shivered iron bolt 
I saw, a blue, black speck, an evil eye 
Picking me out for woe. Where now ?" 

236 



"But here 
To get some books back. You will need some help 
To pass the hours. I picked them up as came 
We here. Debow's Review, and two or three 
Bound volumes of a magazine, and these 
I lent this captain. You can read them o'er 
When we are out and you in camp alone. 
But not just yet : Your education lacks 
Somewhat of finish still in soldier life." 
" Books ! but you surely did not take them 1 ' — "Ahf 
You stop. You mean I did not steal them, eh? 
The word you want is 'confiscate/ but then 
Easy your soul may rest, for these I found 
Left in an open field where other camp 
Had been, and else had ruin met. But here 
We are ! And what is that command ? 'This line 
Will man the rifle pits with what of force 
Can use them, front and rear. At three 
Engage the foe with heavy fire from all, 

237 



Each musket used, with battery's assault 
Fierce and continuous. Before the front 
Of Logan, mine they spring, and while they 

THERE 

Shall charge, so here if chance but offer 



238 



PART III.— BOOK 9. 




GAIN the lines of Vicksburg enter! 

Seek 
Again the mother and her children, 

where 

Dark, damp and cheerless, yet their cave home gives 
Safe shelter from the awful storm of war. 
E'en as we look, slight stir betokens life 
Awakened to new force. They gather there 
About a stretcher where a soldier lies 
Sick, wounded slight, the father now brought home 
From trench advanced, and as they place him there 

239 



Where brightest seems the always gloomy cave, 
And leave him with the wife alone, he speaks: 
W 'I can endure the strain no longer! What 
With broiling sun and narrow rifle pit, 
And food so worthless that its highest claim 
For merit is its scantiness, and with the storm 
Of sky and shot to bear through hours where rest 
Is not, I'm sick. I wish with all my heart 
That Pemberton would hang the white flag out 
To-morrow, yes, to-day. Rebel I've been 
Bitter and strong and long, but sick I am 
Of war and sleepless nights, and good men killed, 
With no great gain above the olden time." 
And as he spake, a neighboring woman came, 
Tall, angular, and heard his words, and cried: 
"A coward! Coward! What! I think 'tis time 
You died with speech so trait'rous. Give your guns 
To women, they'll soon make the Yankees fly, 
Curse on them ev'ry one !" 

240 



"My gun is there, 
Take it, and show us how to fight !" said he. 
"O you ! You! skulker you! I'll not endure 
Such insult, language cowardly;" and forth 
In wrath appalling stalked, with courage writ 
In letters luminous on her sharp face. 
And she, the faithful wife, with tender touch, 
Soothed with soft hand the fevered brow, and spake: 
"O darling, I'm so glad you're here. May be 
The war must wage, and surely we must win, 
I pray for it to Him who rules, and know 
Your true heart beats as ever bold for us, 
And none would dare and do beyond your deed; 
But weary worn, I'm so sorry, too, 
For you hard racked with pain. And yet I wish, 
O I seem always wishing, that the war 
Were done, and you and I again could rest 
Beneath the shelter of our little home. 
And sometimes, dear, before I catch my thought, 

16 241 



My heart in whisper low, speaks words like yours. 

I cannot help the silent questioning, 

What gain ? What gain above the olden time ? 

But let us give no care to gloomy thoughts. 

To-day nry hand must learn a higher skill 

To soothe, and bring the glad health back again. 

Rest, weary eyes; rest, weary heart, and give 

To future strength the doubts and hopes, nor now 

Vex more yourself deciding good and ill/' 

And as these words their charm began, Mabelle 

Came swift from friends who lived in cave near by, 

And threw her arms about the father's neck 

With sweet caress, and eagerly did speak : 

" O papa ! I'm so glad you've come. Is war 

All done, and shall we always now be glad ?" 

And ere the careful mother could restrain 

Her child, or wisely answer all, there came 

A deep and sudden sound that shook the hill, 

Then swelled to uproar such as none had heard, 

242 



And he, uprising 'gainst entreaty, cried: 

" That cannonading! aye, and musketry! 

And louder, louder still! They charge, they charge! 

My gun, quick, hand it! I must go!" And while 

With feeble step he sought his gun, and forth 

Essayed to go, the wife entreating, cried: 

a O husband! do not go! too slightly your strength '!" 

And as she stayed his steps with slender force, 

In rushed the woman brave who left brief space 

Before, and loud and oft her cries: "O save! 

O save! The Yankees come! We shall be killed!" 

And to her spake the wife: "Help me, and be 

Worth something." And the woman answering, 

" I thought he wanted Pemberton to yield," 

Yet placed herself a barrier in his way. 

"Out of my path!" said he; "I will be there 

And do my part to save the town," and forced 

His way, and rushed the street along, pursued. 

And from exhaustion fallen, was brought home 

243 



By citizens who were not slow with words: 

" ' Twas foolish! Come, get strong, then fight it out. 1 ' 

" Wait, then, I must, 1 ' he gasped r " but no^ one knows 

How well he loves the cause till lost it seems." 

"There goes an orderly! Pll learn the news. 

Halt, halt ! What of the front?" and he replied: 

•'A mine, and half a regiment blown up ! 

' Tis Logan's force, but on our inner line 

Suspecting ill, another work we built, 

And now the crater both are holding ; each 

A half." "And still we hold the line?" u Aye, aye, 

And can, till comes the crack of doom." 

He passed : 
And more content the soldier sought his conch 
And heard the words of swe*et Mabelle: 
" O papa ! When we felt so glad, the war 
Made mamma cry, and me; and will war come 
Alway just when we all begin to be 
Happy? And must we always be so sad?" 

244 



PART III.— BOOK io. 




PON the hillside camp, meanwhile, and 
armed, 
They waited long; and when the earth- 
quake's stroke 
(So like was man's grand effort to destroy) 
Fell, and the hillside bounded so that men 
Prostrate, a blow did seem to feel from earth, 
Uplifting, fire of rifle blazed, and voice 
Of cannon shouted long and loud their wrath. 
While these assailed the foe from right to left, 

245 



Swart Logan sought to pierce his stubborn front. 
Vain each, vain all, for large success! And calm 
Fell on the camp again; nor long had been, 
When came detail for company to which 
Belonged the sergeant. Once would he have sought 
By reason of late watch and toil, excuse 
To wait and rest in camp. But now so few, 
Of those whom yet the hissing ball had left 
Worn with the toil, beset with fell disease, 
None could be spared. And only six good men 
Their place had filled at command. But Hearty 

stayed 
In camp, sore tired with his experiment. 
The others to the hill's near summit climbed, 
Their duty to support the force within 
The trench, yet with the morning's light to be, 
— And all the day — sharpshooters. On the earth 
Prostrate they slumbered soon, nor woke till fast 
And faster still the rain drops fell; nor then 

246 



Did some, till long well soaked, the shower heed. 
Impetuous the storm, and slanting waves 
Rushed from the sky and swayed and swept along, 
And torrents formed that flowed the hillsides down, 
And laughed and gurgled loud o'er trench-made beds, 
And moaned disconsolate, that empty found 
Were most; but noisier grew, and roared amain 
With strength brief held, as swept it o'er a bank 
Slight made, about the couch where Hearty slept, 
Safe to this hour, beneath a shelter formed 
With cunning by the sergeant's hand where twain 
The ponchos hung above. But with the sweep 
Of unchained current, stakes gave way and o'er, 
Beneath, and all around, the citizen 
Was stormed and captured ere he knew. 
He pondered o'er his lost estate, and then 
The hill climbed where the others sat, the rain 
Taking as calmly as they could. His form 
They welcomed with unseemly jests, or such 

247 



They were to him: and faithless, Sergeant Mars 
Began to tell his words when first he came. 
Tho ? sorely piqued, what could he do? But this: 
A vow to write deep in his soul to leave 
And homeward go when dawn should come. And 

this 
Perceiving from his moody word, they spoke 
How light his task was, tho 1 it seemed so hard 
Compared with theirs that no cessation had. 
And sensible of this he grew more kind; 
And one: "Take courage, man! I came at dusk 
From Logan's front where I had gone to see 
Their work, and better fare we than those men 
Who hold the crater. Shells and hand-grenades 
Rolled from the upper slope held by the foe 
Came always, plunging down into that ditch, 
Or hole, made by th' explosion. Yet our men 
Stay on: And many hurt; and not unlike 
This one I'll tell you of. He stood, the while 

24S 



Bravely his musket using, or the shells 

Light, feathered, held by hand, and one had tossed 

Squarely into the fort thai yet did fail 

To burst. Quick it was siezed by enemy, 

Re-lighted, downward sent, exploding loud, 

And one broad piece cut sharp his bowels through, 

Falling in bloody length; and he, placed near 

Where it was safest for the time, did moan 

Entreaty hard to bear, for help. While thus 

He lay, another lighted shell was hurled 

And fell between his arm and chest, and there 

Wedged close; its short fuse shaking sparks, and while 

With piteous voice he begged some to take it out 

— A task impossible — it burst, and death 

Brought, shiv'ring far the body that it fell 

In pieces on his comrades." As he told, 

Hearty grew sick, and still the night and rain 

Made horror grow more horrible. And none 

Could say they easy felt, and well. This spell 



Unwelcome was, and straight they called for him 
Whom well they knew, but all his secrets not, 
The jolly man who slew the grunting reb 
And then outwitted was by shoulder strap, 
To tell his best experience gay and give 
Mood livelier. And he straightway began. 
"Well, if I must, on you rest all the blame; 
For acts, if wrong-, should die; but now you seek 
To keep such things alive in memory. 
'Twas in Missouri that the thing occurred, 
And in those days a craving sometimes fell 
Upon us such as milk alone could help'. 
And this refreshed us much. So once I took 
My gun, — 't was night, and slowly sauntered forth, 
And while in dignified patrol I strode, 
(For here the weary guard 't was well to aid) 
Behind with cup and two canteens, my mate, 
Whose stronger mind was apt to lead me wrong, 
Did follow; guilty prisner, too, if need 



2^a 



For such arose. Soon in the gloom beyond' 

The corn crib of our regiment, and where 

A clump of trees did hide the form right well r 

A dark, still object met my eye. And yet 

As paused I there to listen, craunching corn 

I knew the cow was, while a wicked man 

A grievously offending soldier milked. 

In voice with sternness rilled 'Who's there?' I cried, 

And hastened forward. Then the crouching form 

Uprose, uprose and fled in wild alarm. 

Pursuit I made, tho' slow, and while I ran 

My comrade took the place the man gave up, 

And guarded by me was marched to camp." 

" You had seen service," up spake one, "yourself 

By this!" 

"Service!" his comrade cried, "I think 
He had, and yet he says my stronger mind 
Was apt to lead him wrong. No leading he 
Required. Had I not held him back, of times 

251 



A score, the trouble he had fallen on 

Had turned his raven locks to gray. His skill 

All know. If mischief's nigh he'll find it first. 

Ask him about the gentle heifer milked 

On picket post, then tied by friendly rope 

Till morn, and fed from stolen corn, and milked 

Again, the while the folks upon the hill 

Did wonder why their cow came not; and bid 

Him tell how, stealing serpent-like along 

Before the very door of rebel rich, 

He softly laid the rails down, one by one, 

At corner most remote, till low the fence, 

And then did softly steal away and wait 

The innocent and portly victim's step, 

That loving liberty, had o'er the rail 

Unnoticed gone, and sought the shade and stream. 

'Twas there he lay, and with no pang of soul 

He slew the unsuspecting pig, and took 

In haste such part was best and fled away." 

252 



"Hold on! my boy, 77 he answered, "not so fast! 

I'll tell a bit of history youVe had 

And prove my case : deny this if you can ! 77 

And all "the story! 77 called, nor gave more room 

For answer, and the story came. "You know 

7 Twas hard for tender men like us to eat 

The hard-tack tough and bacon tougher still, 

And oft temptation sore beset our souls 

To feed on what was at our hand to own 

Provided we were sly, — the stately hog. 

Much tried, our scruples were at last o 7 ercome, 

And carefully into the night and storm 

(For such the time temptation came with powV 

When eyes of guards were dimmed of all their fires), 

My comrade sallied forth and followed I. 

That day his careless glance had fallen where 

Two beasts of savage form, 'Missouri bears, 7 

Lay close in bed of leaves; and toward this spot 

We turned our gentle steps. With grief we 7 d heard 

«£3 



On but a morn or two before, command 
Forbidding all such exercise as this, 
And lest we should disturb the Colonel's sleep 
We scarcely whispered. And beside we sought 
To give no needless toil to weary guards 
Patrolling streets and by-ways. Soon we came 
Where still the fierce beasts slumbered. Stooping low 
With touch as gentle as the breath of spring, 
My comrade sought the jutting brow to deal 
A blow that should no second stroke require. 
Such patient care was needed, else a squeal 
Betraying our benign intent, — to end 
What must a hard life be, — might bring on us 
The overtasked and suffering patrol, 
— A stroke more surely aimed than that we dealt. 
Dark, dark the night, and as the wet wind flapped 
Its banner in his face, he whispered, 'now 
All right;' and blow such as the mighty arm 
Of youth all nerved with purpose most humane 

254 



Alone could give, upon the sleeping beast 
Did fall O ! never from mine ear will go 
That scream so piercing ! wailing out its woe 
•Of porcine sorrow, told in language none; 
So feeble is the boasted speech of man 
When tested b} T this brothers higher sense 
And kinglier and deeper sufferings. 
Brief moment passed, and with it we, to space 
Remote, where I with heavy heart did learn, 
My comrade made mistake about the end 
He hit." " Keep now a sharp look out and care- 
ful guard, 
Men, for the rebs are nearly done for," this, 
Bluff speech of pickets twain sent from the front 
Broke on the story and gave rise to words 
Not answered full; for passed they on to bear 
Their message grave to Grant. 

Slow wheeled the hours 
Till laggard dawn, .and late the driving storm 

2.5.5 



Abated, and the red sun rose. Their place 
Not fresh, yet ready, took the men in trench, 
And with the dawn the crack of rifle rang. 
As task of day began. And back the guards 
Came from the front, their watching done, and told 
Of picket line nearer the rebel fort 
Advanced. "Consent," said they, "Our officer 
Got from the enemy, to push thus close 
By act polite. 'A fight we do not wish,' 
He said, 'and yet our line must nearer go: 
If kindly you will but withdraw these guards 
A little, trouble none can be, nor you 
Worse off 1 ; and kindly did the man consent. 
And so we took their line and ran a trench 
Where only late their picket posts had been.' 7 
And Hearty woke to life at this, and said, 
11 And is that war?" and Sergeant Mars replied: 
tk Peace hath her victories and this is one. 
If thus they'll act Fll favor peace alway." 

256 



And none his weighty question solved. Soon came 

The officer who had the line in charge 

And from him some soon learned the word sent on 

To Grant. The story of the picket ran: 

" On post I talked with rebel guard, (a truce 

Had we, and by agreement did exchange 

Opinions). 'Damage great,' said he, 'our shells 

Had wrought their men who long had looked for 

charge 
Renewed.' But when none came, 't was sought to 

send 
Strong force against us, and the .men refused 
With words near mutiny. Assurance then 
Was giv'n, that effort such they would not make, 
And calmed the tumult. But he farther said 
They also heard that after seven more days, 
So long Would their provisions last, in boats 
Across the river all would seek to pass; 
And added, ' as our truce expired by hour 

17 2 57 



Struck by the clock on court-house in the town, 
— The signal we had set, — that even now 
Their boats along the river bank were framed 
From houses, and the plan proposed would give 
Two thousand boats, in which,' he said, and smiPd, 
i They'd sail away and leave the city to its doom.'" 
And Hearty said again: " and is this war?" 
And none replied, but gave the pickets room 
To go their way with the deserters few, 
And each one to his duty turned. " Here! man, 1 ' 
Cried Sergeant Mars to Hearty, as he thought 
To leave the trench and seek the hillside camp, 
"A sharpshooter become!" and straight a gun 
Placed in his hands: nor he refused; but where 
In boxes many on the low, safe side 
Of rifle pit, the ammunition was, 
Soon learned the few rules of the rifle-man. 
"'Twill easy be," the sergeant said, "in this, 
The rear trench wide and deep, to use your skill 

25s . 



Up! stand on this earth-step, to bring your eye 
Level with port hole: fire whene'er you see 
Along yon hill suspected enemy. 
You note that winding trench which leads this way, 
Our nearest to the foe! If you were there 
You 'd feel the force of hand-hurled shells, but here 
In comfort fire and take your timer' And he 
Obeying, looked, and looked again, and said: 
"I see there nothing but a yellow line 
Upon the far ridge crest." And sergeant Mars: 
"See! see that horse! Be quick and try your skill!" 
And answered he: "What! shoot a harmless horse?" 
"Of course," the sharp reply, "and be }^ou quick! 
He starts this way; the rebs will kill him near 
Our lines if chance they get." " Here goes then! See 
He falls!" "and up again he gets and limps 
This way, too near us now for us to end 
His life. But hear! They see their chance and now 
He dies beside our ditch. Just hear them yell!" 



And closed the sergeant's anxious speech with words 
More desperately calm: "we'll have the task, 
Not they, of burying the slain." Then asked 
The citizen: "Is that oft done?" "Whene'er 
It can be done," he answered. " Hot the days : 
And all flesh fades in its known way, and fast, 
Nor gives to living souls an odor sweet. 
But come this side!" u What! all that water 

through, 
And mud?" the citizen began, and Mars 
Replied: u Of course! The lines, it held, must be 
All places held. Four inches deep, no more! 
'Tis good, quite good, to-day, and pleasanter" 
E'en here than when it rains the while. Come, 

come ! 
Heed not the sides; your clothes will only lose 
Freshness and beauty for the country's weal. 
' The mire below, and on the sides, no ill 

Beyond a remedy, can work." But he: 

260 



" This narrow trench I cannot stand! It smokes 

Beneath the sun, a sun as hot as fire. 

Nor will I stand and shoot in mud like that; 

Nor lean myself against these walls of mud. 

I'm going back!" nor waited for reply. 

"Hold on! there's fun ahead! nor can we give 

The education fit, if you the school 

Refuse!" loud cried the sergeant, and the cit: 

"Hang education! I shall learn some way 

Besides this," and was seen there not again 

That day. Yet when at eve they came to rest, 

They found him only waiting their return 

To say good by. And argument they used 

That he should stay; that soon the town would fall 

And he should see it; and his thoughts diverse 

Caught some attraction in the cheering word. 

For not one thing he held alone. His love 

And honor for the soldiery remained, 

But burned the brighter when he saw their life 

261 



Afar, encircled with the halo crown 

Romantic; nor his flesh endured right well 

The burdens o.f the real life of war. 

'* Stay yet till morn," the sergeant said at last, 

u For we go then, a few, each in our turn 

To pass the day at place where rest may come, 

From this two miles removed, and clean our robes 

So dainty, yet now stained somewhat, and there 

Think over all your woes, and meditate 

The joys that may remain." And he consent 

Did give, and as they sought to mend the ill 

Their couch received from storm, again was called 

The sergeant for the picket work of night. 

Bidding his friend go at the morn where went 

The others, he himself to follow soon, 

He took his place in line, and while the friend 

Slept hard the sleep of one worn out, he watched 

On post the slowly passing stars till day. 

The morning came, nor long had Hearty been 

262 



At mystic shed where lived the skillful cooks 

Preparing the luxurious meals those men 

Fed on who held the trenches, when returned 

The sergeant. Warned, indeed, yet Hearty seemed 

Forgetful 'twas the day of cleansing high. 

Soon saw the sergeant on his face a look 

That called for speech. "What row? my cit, what 

now? 
A horrible disgust is writ upon 
Your front." And he replied: u Yonder, I've seen 
The soldiers boiling clothes to kill, they say, 
Life, crawling life ! and laugh and joke of heat 
Impossible to reach their vital part, 
As if 'twere sport ! Why, only now I heard 
Yon soldier cry in voice stentorian 
He had not slept a wink the night before 
Because these things played base upon his rlesh I" 
Of this last awful ill, the sergeant spoke : 
"Why, if they battle furiously with these 

263 



And bravely the relentless conflict wage, 
Shall this not wake your admiration strong ? 
These noble men ! God bless them all ! these brave, 
Grand men are fighters through and through, nor wear 
The yoke of this fierce foe with easy soul. 
Come, mount your steed and ride the great words 

down 
For strife thus kent against the fearful odds I" 
" But there's no glory in such thing as this ; 
I could not stand it for a single hour." 

<( ' O wad some power the giftie gie us, 
To see oursels as others see us!' 

My friend mine eyes behold you prisoner now; 
Go ! borrow yonder kettle, boil your clothes." 
" So help me, I've enough of army life; 
I thought war could be waged with decency ! 
I'll hear no more your argument to stay; 1 ' 
And to his words proved true, for when came by 
The ambulance in train, he sought Yazoo. 

264 




'PS&/. 



U1"PEE ENTliANCE TO VICKSBUBG. 2 





PART III.— BOOK ii. 

HANGE we the scene once more. 
'Tis Johnston's camp, 

July's first scorching morn! With anx- 
ious thought 
He ponders now the problem how he best 
May Vicksburg's army save tho' lost the town. 
From that doomed city messengers not oft 
May come, and fewer to it go. And ere 
May all her roll of battle days had called, 
To Pemberton he message sent of strength 
Too slight to save the city, but enough 



20 J 



It might be, both assaulting Grant at once, 
One from within, one from the outer field 
To open way for troops besieged. And this 
Repeated he when June's twin sevens had smiled 
And died. And far to Richmond sent dispatch 
Of hopeless contest 'gainst the gaining Grant. 
Large force from Big Black river to the heights 
— Haines 7 BlurT, held Sherman, skillful, brave, and 

strong 
'Gainst his assault, as Vicksburg's walls at first 
'Gainst Grant. And reinforcements wished, and called 
From Bragg, and Lee, who meanwhile had begun 
Invasion North, and hence no help could send; 
Tho' anxious Davis sought, and hoped him aid 
Enough; nor yielded to the chosen Lee, 
Who asked diversion, since all ibrce in hand 
Had gone in haste to save the key of realm 
In South and West. Nowhere precaution spared 
The foe, whose chief each chance did weigh, 

268 



And now with one hand crushed the city down, 
And grimly with the other kept at bay 
The eager Johnston. And within, without, 
Fear seized the heart to try the bloody test 
Of battle; for too well they found ill fared 
All conflict with the silent man whose name 
Was Patience when not Pluck alone. And came 
Sad story from the sufPring city, soon 
To fall. Gaunt famine entered, and the sick 
No careful hand could heal where noise of War, 
To fright the flutt'ring wings of Rest away, 
Did with its awful thunder, ceasing not, 
Shake Slumber till he died. And all the food, 
111 fitted for the feeble frame, as well 
Grew scarce. A dire extremity had come. 
Doom, writ in letters black, seemed hanging o'er 
The town. Yet hope remained if soon the help 
Of Johnston's army reached them; such the words 
Repeated always, varying to the worse. 

269 



Then Johnston order gave to move, and on, 
With less'ning hope of swift relief of friends 
Slowly his host pressed toward the lines of Grant. 
Yet stayed they. And when now the third day came, 
A trusty messenger to Pemberton 
Was sent to set the seventh for the assault. 
Nor ever reached him: pris'ner safe instead! 
And Grant perceiving trench and fort had done 
Their work, and fighting desperate had grown, 
Ev'n hand to hand, and seeing victory, 
Ordered the grand assault one day before 
The seventh. And still the siege kept on; and more 
The suffering hosts within did suffer still; 
And still the weary soldiers, victors soon 
Their duty met with ever less'ning lines. 
Unceasing still the sad train sought Yazoo, 
Bearing the sick and dying from the front: 
Many, indeed, yet few of all that filled 
The tent-built hospitals upon the hills. 



For day by day, the fountains fair of life 

Were poisoned. Dread disease claimed victims more 

Than fatal shell and ball. Nor Marah fount 

Had hope of change, but must its dark stream pour 

Northward, if e'er it lost its bitterness. 

And o'er the road that wound along the slopes, 

Where trees cut low, removed, gave slender space, 

And weary wheels of well filled ambulance 

Struck hard the roots, or dropped with heavy jolt 

Into the deeper rut, racking the sick 

To nearer death, or starting half healed wounds 

Afresh, in sad monotony of pain. 

War's worn out remnants drifted from his way. 

And still the watchful leaders watched the foe, 

Where now the wary Johnston drew anear 

With army large. And thus the days passed on, 

The few, great, weighty, last da3 T s of the siege. 




PART III— BOOK 12. 

ND all these days slight healing brought 
to him 
Who waited in his cave home dark. 
~*)$gt- And yet 

So soft, so loving was the touch, the care 
So tender and so faithful, health elsewhere 
Had long time blossomed red upon the cheek, 
And e'en here wrought the charm that baffles death. 
And now slight rest the weary mother takes; 
And sweet Mabelle intent with childish love, 



1 8 



Plans something helpful, and a pitcher clasps 
With hand so small it ill the weight can bear. 
Soft falls her step; she whispers as she goes: 
" While weary mamma rests, and papa sleeps, 
I'll go and bring some water sweet and cool. 
The spring is full, and it is earl)' now; 
I shall not hear the bullets singing there 
That music strange and sharp they sing at noon. 
Once when I went, and mamma did not know, 
When papa was so sick, and called and called 
For water, water, all the day, I was afraid; 
For tho 1 I looked I could not see what made 
The sound I heard." And as she hastened thus, 
Two soldiers from the front came by and stopped 
Where lay a shell, one of the many near. 
" This shell," said one, " you might play foot-ball with! 
I'll lift it; a ten-pounder with the fuse 
Gone out!" — but quick he stopped his speech as 
shrieked 

*74 



His comrade, seeing it thus careless held 
Ready to fall: "For God's sake look! A cap 
And unexploded!" But the cry he heard 
Too late, for from his grasp it rolled and smote 
The hard beat road, and burst. A dread sound rose, 
As death came swift to one, and one did fall 
Sore wounded: but a low, sad moan was heard 
From other lips where sank the sweet Mabelle 
Struck to her death. Soon friends the slight form took 
And bore her back in sorrow to her home. 
And when the mother came, her beating heart 
Stilling its pulse as if beneath the touch 
Of death, and only living that her help 
Might bring Mabelle relief, the weak voice spoke: 
" I went to bring the water pure and cold 
To papa, when a great noise and a pain, 
Dull and then sharp, fell on me. What is it, 
Dear mamma ? O the pain!" And she in turn: 
"O my sweet child, my beautiful, my own, 



275 



What have they done to thee! What shall I do I" 
And here the surgeon gently spoke, whose skill 
Had sought in vain some charm relief to bring, 
"Poor child! sweet innocent! I wish my help 
Could give you ease and health; how glad I'd be! 
And I'm so sorry too, you suffer so." 
And quick to learn, she sought her mother's face 
Beseeching, and the trembling words did fall: 
"O mamma! can't I live!" "Not long with us,' 7 
The surgeon answered, in the mother's stead, 
"Fair child, dear child, but hence with God alway." 
Nor from the mother's face the sad eyes looked 
While still the trembling, whispered words came slow. 
"Dear mamma, must I leave you? Papa too? 
Who'll bring the water cool and sweet, to him? 
And baby sister that so loves to lay 
Her little cheek to mine, what will she do 
Without me?" And there came a moment's pause, 
For now the less'ning strength more feeble grew. 

276 



But soon she added: "O, I know! I'll go 

Where' yonder shine the safe, high stars. You know 

You told me mamma, God could keep his own, 

His little children, alway safe as He 

The bright stars keeps so far above the ones « 

That fall and trouble, making baby cry. 

And won't you smile, dear mamma, when I'm gone, 

To think of me, your little girl, so safe? 

I'll listen, too, to hear you when you sing 

To baby sister, and I'll try to keep 

The naughty stars from falling while she sleeps. 

Can't I do more, dear mamma, there than here? 

I'll be so glad to help you still, but now 

It hurts so when I speak. Kiss me, mamma," 

And silent grew; and slow and slower came 

The breathing, till at last it seemed to stop; 

Yet then in clear, sweet tones these words they 

heard: 
u Safe, safe above the falling stars!" and none 

^77 



Saw when she died: so calm and so alike 

The last of life, the first of death. But when 

Long silence fell, the mother's heart refused 

Its beating, and she lay the long night through, 

In either world, now dead, now giving signs 

Of life. With morn came greater strength. The love 

Unselfish, for the living spoke its call, 

And these received again the care their need 

Demanded. Though she wailed not, yet she grieved 

As only mothers grieve; for deepest far 

Of all deep graves, are those that lie deep digged 

Within a mother's heart of loving ones 

Bereft. 

When ev'ning came a few did meet 
About the dear child's form to hear the words 
The aged pastor spoke, whose broken voice 
Sometimes was lost amid the louder peal 
Of cannons' thunder on the lines afar. 
Yet in the moments hushed, these words they heard: 

27S 



"Dear friends! so heavy with this burden great, 
So pierced with anguish to the deepest heart, 
No words so sweet, so strong for hour like this, 
As these: 'Like as a father pitieth 
His children, so the Lord doth pity them 
That fear Him.' Or the tender words: 'As one 
Whom his own mother comforteth, so will 
I ctmfort you!' What more hath Heav'n to give? 
A father's pity and a mother's heart, 
With sympathy so true, upfilled from deeps 
That measure love forever infinite! 
Yes true, tho' now beheld— a rainbow truth- 
Through tears; O look and see! And oft the hand 
Of Love must hold the young heart back from ill 
That seemeth only good to childish eyes! 
How oft the cup of bitterness to lips 
That tremble with refusal, press to-day, 
That bright to-morrow may its beaker fill 
With nectar draught of pleasure sweet and high. 

279 



Withholding what a blessing seems for good 
Beyond compare, is evermore the part 
Of parent fond, yet true to offspring loved. 
But how much more the Heav'nly Father knows 
The good of Heav'n outweighs the ill of earth ! 
The lily fair, that fades, and sparrow frail 
That flies and falls beneath the eastern sky 
Marked by the Father's watchfulness, are these 
Of value, like the sweet white soul that ope'd 
Its snowy wings and fled to God! And here 
As cries the weary parent heart, and here 
As willingly that parent heart would break 
Its fettered life to spare the suffering child; 
So cried the tender heart above for this 
The sweet, calm spirit held in bonds of pain. 
So cries the tender heart above for you, 
O parent heart, whose hurt is death in life. 
A Father's heart, whose only Son went forth 
To deeps of sorrow measureless to man, 

280 



That help might come to us in hour like this. 

God's home was desolate, that lonely homes 

Of earth might somewhere rind not sympathy 

Alone, but that which makes all losses up. 

Only from love that sees a fairer good. 

Would he afflict, as never willingly 

He doth afflict His loved ones left awhile 

Before he brings them also home. And love 

Will overbear this ill to good. As erst 

The bold, grand prophet swept his flight on wings 

Of angels, beating strong what whirlwind seemed, 

When fiery steed and chariot passed between 

Twain servants true, — a flame of holiness — 

And parted saint on earth from saint in Heaven ; 

Nor record bears of readiness to die, 

But c now when God would take Elijah up ' 

And into Heav'n! — God's readiness, not his, — 

No less for childish heart the Father planned 

Surprise that was not for Himself surprise. 

281 



A sweet surprise, for out of grievous pain,. 
Fit offspring of the curse of sin long felt, 
The great Omnipotence hath wrested good 
Where lesser might were vanquished. O! my friends r 
We shall hereafter know what here seems hard 
To understand, but pledged the Father's love 
And pledged the Father's pow'r, to turn e'en ill, 
Else ever ill in all its dire effect, 
To work of good for those who love Him. Lot 
Behind the every accident and blow 
Tho' evil in its fall, stands He, our God, 
Divine Compeller in the realm by man 
Hurled from its fair intent through suff'rance wise, 
(He knoweth best) to keep His promise sure. 
And thus it was a sweet, a glad surprise, 
And glory so ineffable He gave 
That we shall sometime say, ' If we had known I 
If we had known!' and leave unsaid the rest,. 
For lack of speech, tho' Heavenly, to show 

282 



a 



Light grief, and weighty wealth of God's reward." 
" Pemberton's surrendered ! the fighting's 

DONE, 

The white flag's out, and Grant the day has- 

won !" 
Was shouted; breaking in upon the words 
Solemn and tender, where were hearts so sad. 
And near the cave a crowd soon gathered. Voice 
Vied with voice the tidings great to ask : 
" How do you know ? Where did you hear it, pray?"* 
And answer came above the noisy cries: 
tr It's ev'rywhere along the front. Our boys 
Are talking there from parapet to men, 
They shot at only yesterday. Both sides 
Stand on their breastworks. On to-morrow morn 
The entry of the boys in blue will be 
With many a shout. The glorious ' Fourth ' 
And Vicksburg's fall will open wide their throats.. 
Hang Pemberton for yielding on that day!" 

283 



And tearful, sad, the mother's voice did speak: 
" O safety come too late! O innocent! 
Why must thy young life sink beneath the blow 
To fall, if ever it should fall, upon the strong! 1 ' 
And low and faint, yet heard from lines afar, 
Came the wild cheer, "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! 11 

284 



PART III— BOOK 13. 



THE FOURTH OF '63. 
Vicksburg. Gettysburg. 

ING for the victory highest hosanna! 
Sun in the East kisses conquering banner. 
Ring out the shout over hill and savanna, 
Swell ye the chorus in royalest manner, 

Sun in the East kisses conquering banner! 

Sing for the victory highest hosanna! 

Sun in the West kisses conquering banner. 

Ring out the shout over hill and savanna, 

;s 5 




Swell ye the chorus in royalest manner, 
Sun in the West kisses conquering banner! 

With victory East and with victory West, 
Whom of her sons shall the Land love the best? 
The heroes who stood like the adamant rock, 
Breasting the billow and breaking its shock, 
Or the heroes who swept like the long chafing sea, 
Over barriers strongest that ever may be ? 
With victory West and with victory East, 
Neither, the ones that she loveth the least. 
With the victory East with the victory West 
Either, the ones that she loveth the best. 
Triumph ? Ah, never shall triumph divide, 
United their hands and their hearts shall abide! 
n Tis victory East and victory West, 
That thus may each son serve his country the best. 



286 



THE ENTRY. 

I list to the tread of the army, 
' Tis passing before mine eye! 

I see where the bayonet flashes, 
And gaily the banners fly. 

And yonder the great commander 
Will lead to the captured town; 

For ever before his columns 

The flags of the foe come down. 

There, too ; is a gallant leader 
Where march the boys in blue, 

For riding lightly, proud and knightly, 
Is Logan, the tried and true.* 

* Logan's division was one of those which had approached nearest the 
rebel works, and now was the first to enter the town. It had been heavil v 
engaged in both assaults, and was fairly entitled to this honor. — Badeau, vol. 

387 



The}' move from the winding trenches. 

That hug the enemy's throat 
Like the tortuous folds of a serpent, 

O'er rampart and shallow moat. 

In front of the grim guns threat 'ning 

The city so late their foe, 
And over the shot-scarred greensward 

In triumph the vet Vans go. 

Lo, silent the enemy's rifle, 

And the battery's hate is dead, 

That thundered in iron hailstorm, 
Flushing the blue with red. 

Up, o'er the ridge to the summit, 
With tread that is soft and slow, 

For sleeping the sleep of heroes 
Are the slain of the charge below. 



O Death! it was thy wave dashing 
,At foot of the rampart high, 

That tossed as the foam ot the billow, 
All vainly the brave to die. 

Their graves are but thy fixed billows, 
And mark where the red tide stayed, 

Or pioneer host of the army 
Their claim to the city laid. 

And whose but their own is the city 
Now waiting the army's will ? 

For honor the highest forever 
To heroes whose hearts are still! 

Lo, yonder, with glitter and gleaming, 
At touch of the morning sun, 

Stand waiting in mute surrender 
The foeman's flag and gun. 

i 9 2S9 



Go, write on their tattered banners, 
In the silent and solemn pause, 

7 Twas failure, but not of courage, 
Not courage, O Truth! but Cause. 

I hear not the tread of the army, 
'T is gone from before mine eye, 

But now in the heart of the city 
The banners of beauty fly. 

And swift is the march to the court-house, 

Whose lofty defiant tower 
Must bloom with the flag of the fathers, 

In this the triumphant hour! 

Higher, and higher, and higher! 

'Till naught remains but the sky, 
They carry the flag of the nation, 

To greet from afar the eye 

290 



See! see! how it opens in beauty, 

At touch of the south wind's breath ! 

•See! see how it throbs, how it pulses 
With life that shall know no death. 

Aye! float and forever, glad banner! 

The flag of the father and son; 
Till the life of the nation is ended 

When the work of the race is done! 

They come from the fett'ring siegework, 

Where long the army lay, 
But see! a host on the river! 

And whose is the strange array ? 
The sick come closing down from the river's side, 

In boats that lay so long in lone Yazoo, 
The flag its signal sends o'er the flowing tide, 
Their hearts beat high and strong with the soldier's 
pride,, 

291 



And feel again a strength to dare and do. 
Hear, hear the shout! Is it low and faint ? 

Yet it swells to the distant sky, 
For the strength they lost has carried the flag r 
Till yonder its colors fly! 

They come from the fett'ring siege-work 

Where long the army lay; 
But all — are they here at the roll call, 

Who were bravest amid the fray? 

There are guards on heights that silently wait, and wilL 

In broken line the rank and the file fall in. 
No second relief shall ever their places fill; 
On guard, on guard are they for their country still, 
And faithfully keep what valor and life did win. 
O silent sentries! but speaking yet 

With a language to thrill the heart! 

If the good land fail it must first forget 

What graves of its strength are part.. 

292 



The}' come from the fett'ring siege-work, 
. And waters of lone Yazoo. 
And some are waiting the summons 
To the last and the grand review. 



Dead ? On the day remembered 

While brave is the land and free ? 

O! speak not the words of sorrow, 
But cleared be thine eye to see: 

Lo! vision of snowy splendor, 
But clouds to the heavy eyes, 

— Motionless ships at their anchor, 
A fleet of the shoreless skies, — 

Yet gathers the viewless army 
From heights to the river's side, 

Joining the sick and the silent, 
Till nowhere their ranks divide. 

293 



O day of resplendent glory! 1 

Thy joy shall the brave not feeL ; . 

Who in the strife for the city 
Fell 'neath the foeman's steel ? 

Yet groweth that shadowy army, 
And strange are the forms I see,. 

There, there are the Continentals! 
Who made the nation free. 

O day of resplendent glory ! 

Thy joy shall the brave not know 
Who fought for their country's altars,, 

The battles of Long ago ? 

Hearts beating their p-dean triumphant,. 

To welcome a nation born, 
Shall these not a kindred rapture 

Feel on this natal morn ? 

294 



Morn! greeting a land delivered, 

That reeled 'neath the foeman's stroke. 

Morn! kissing the old flag floating 
High over the battle smoke. 

For saved is the flag of beauty 

Their willing hands unfurled, 
And saved is the land they gave us, 

Heritage fair, for a world. 

O honor it! Past and Present, 
. Day! when our life begun, 
Day, binding anew the many, 
The many forever one! 

Day, high in its consecration, 
That twice hath uplit the sky, 

Twice heralded, " lives a nation 
Ne'er suffered of God to die." 

295 



O is it only a fancy. 

The city encircled there 
By the threefold lines of an army, 

From earth and the realms of air? 

O is it a fancy only, 

Land loved tho 1 the heroes died? 
That still they are one with the armies 

Here breasting the battle tide? 

Nay, nay! and our children's children, 

To these be the story told, 
How the true heart loves its country, 

Nor death can make love cold. 

O tell them to guard the future, 
That its purpose may be one 

With ours this day accomplished, 
With theirs who our life begun. 
296 



By the light of these high examples 
Strong be their hands to do, 

For still shall the God of Nations 
Help, if their hearts be true! 

For this be the certain token 

To ages yet unborn, 
The land, it shall live forever 

That twice hath a natal morn. 

But see! ah the clouds are breaking, 
And Eastward the host is led ; 

They gather their snow-white legions 
Where Gettysburg's field is red! 

For one is the joy of the Nation, 
Wherever the true hearts be ; 

The West hath taken Vicksburg, 
The East hath conquered Lee ! 

297 



With the victory East ana: the victory West, 
Whom of her sons shall the Land love the best? 
The heroes who stood like the adamant rock 
Breasting the billow and breaking its shock, 
Or the heroes who swept like the long chafing sea 
Over barriers strongest that ever may be ? 
With the victory West with the victory East, 
Neither, the ones that she loveth the least, 
With the victory East and the victory West, 
Either, the ones that she loveth the best. 
Triumph ? Ah, never shall triumph divide, 
United their hands and their hearts shall abide! 
'Tis victory East and victory West 
That thus may each son serve his country the best. 



298 



Thus ours was the gallant city : 
Be it ours while time shall be! 

And the great, glad river sweep on forever 
Unvexed, to the fetterless sea. 



299 




"Sing for the victory highest hosanna! ' 



